“She fought back”: Nanny protects 2-year-old during brutal baseball bat attack, shocked family says

A Texas nanny is being praised for her extraordinary courage after she reportedly fought off a violent attacker while protecting a young child in her care during a shocking daylight assault. The incident, which occurred in Sugar Land, Texas, left the woman hospitalized with severe injuries but ensured that the toddler she was caring for escaped unharmed. Authorities are still searching for the suspect responsible for the attack.

Attack Happened During Morning Walk With Child

Nanny Was Caring for a Toddler When Violence Erupted

According to reports, the woman was taking a morning walk on Friday along Fluor Daniel Drive in Sugar Land while pushing a child in a stroller. Her husband, Dannel Caban, said she was caring for a young child, described in reports as either 17 months old or 2 years old, when the terrifying incident unfolded.

Suspicious Driver Approached Her

The victim became uneasy when she noticed a man driving an SUV in an unusual manner. According to her husband, the driver appeared to be traveling against traffic before stopping and asking her for directions. As she looked toward the vehicle, she noticed a baseball bat inside.

Moments later, the situation turned violent.

Suspect Allegedly Launched Sudden Baseball Bat Attack

Attacker Exited SUV and Began Swinging

According to the victim and her husband, the man abruptly got out of the SUV carrying the baseball bat and rushed toward her.

“As soon as I seen the bat, he just turned around and started running towards me to attack me,” the woman later recalled from her hospital bed.

Her husband said the attacker immediately began swinging the bat. The first blow reportedly struck the back of her head as she attempted to flee.

Victim Pleaded With Attacker to Stop

The nanny described the terrifying moments as the stranger repeatedly swung the bat at her.

“He just was swinging and swinging,” she said. “I just was yelling, ‘Stop, stop. I don’t know you.'”

Despite her pleas, the assault continued.

“She Fought Back” to Protect the Child

Husband Says Her Focus Was Saving the Baby

Throughout the attack, the woman’s primary concern was not her own safety but the safety of the child in her care.

“She fought trying to save the baby. She fought back,” her husband told local media outlets.

As the attack intensified, she reportedly pushed the child out of danger while attempting to shield both herself and the toddler from further blows.

Phone Destroyed While Trying to Call 911

According to Dannel Caban, his wife attempted to contact emergency services during the assault. However, the attacker allegedly grabbed and broke her phone, preventing her from immediately calling for help.

Even after destroying the phone, the suspect allegedly continued the attack.

Severe Injuries Suffered During Assault

Arm Shattered While Defending Herself

The woman said she raised her arms to protect her head from additional strikes. One powerful blow reportedly shattered both bones in her forearm.

“The baby was crying hysterically,” she said. “I just put my arms up to defend myself, to make sure he wasn’t going to hit me more on the head. And that’s when he hit my arm and shattered my arm.”

Multiple Injuries Required Hospitalization

The victim suffered significant injuries to her head, arms, and hands. Due to the severity of her wounds, doctors expected her to remain hospitalized for several days. Her husband said recovery could take as long as five to six months.

Toddler Escaped Without Physical Injury

Child Was Crying But Not Hurt

Despite the chaos and violence, the child was not physically injured during the attack.

The woman repeatedly moved the stroller and positioned herself between the attacker and the child, actions that her family believes prevented a much worse outcome. The toddler reportedly cried hysterically throughout the ordeal but escaped unharmed.

Attacker Fled After Victim Drew Attention

Loud Screams Appeared to Scare Off Suspect

The assault finally came to an end when the woman began screaming loudly for help.

“As soon as I started screaming louder, he just ran and got in his car and took off,” she said.

The suspect quickly fled the scene in the SUV before police arrived.

Good Samaritan Stopped to Help

A passerby eventually came upon the injured nanny and immediately called for emergency assistance.

The woman was covered in blood and suffering from serious injuries when help arrived.

Husband Thought He Might Lose Her

“I Thought That Was the End of Her Life”

Dannel Caban described the horrifying scene he encountered after rushing to the location.

“I saw her completely full of blood, with the arm literally hanging. I thought that was the end of her life,” he said.

The sight of his severely injured wife left him fearing she would not survive the attack.

Police Continue Search for Suspect

Description of the Alleged Attacker

Investigators say the suspect is believed to be a man in his 30s or 40s with a tall, heavier build. He reportedly drove an older-model SUV. Authorities have not released additional identifying information.

Detectives Reviewing Surveillance Footage

The Sugar Land Police Department has been reviewing surveillance footage from the area and following leads in an effort to identify the attacker. Officers have also increased patrols near the location where the assault occurred.

At the time of reporting, investigators had not announced an arrest or disclosed a motive.

Victim Still Searching for Answers

Motive Remains Unknown

One of the most troubling aspects of the case is that investigators still do not know why the attack occurred.

The victim herself has struggled to understand the assailant’s intentions.

“I don’t know if he’s trying to kidnap. Was he trying to rob me? Kill me?” she said.

Authorities have not determined whether the assault was random or targeted.

Family Grateful She Survived

Woman Credits Faith and Family for Her Strength

Despite enduring a brutal attack and facing a lengthy recovery, the nanny says she remains grateful to be alive.

“God gave me the strength to fight back,” she said. “All I could think of was my kids, my grandbabies, my husband, my family.”

She also expressed hope that sharing her story will help authorities identify the suspect and prevent similar attacks from happening to others.

“I’m just thankful to be here and tell my story and make sure that this doesn’t happen again to anybody else,” she said.

The investigation remains ongoing as police continue searching for the man accused of carrying out the shocking baseball bat attack.