In 2022, a young woman in my district, Erika Rothenberger, was viciously attacked and strangled by a stranger in the parking lot of her employer.  The assailant, who was under investigation for a series of similar, seemingly random attacks on women in the City of Philadelphia, beat and strangled Erika until she lost consciousness.[1] Shockingly, although Erika’s attacker was apprehended and charged with strangulation, the offense was merely classified as a second-degree misdemeanor[2] because it was not committed against a “family or household member”.  Under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, the crime of strangulation is graded as a felony of the second-degree[3] only if the offense was committed against a “family or household member”, by a caretaker against a care-dependent person, or in conjunction with sexual violence.
 
In July of 2025, another chilling incident occurred.  According to news reports, a woman in Montgomery County was asleep in her home when she awoke to find a man on top of her, attempting to strangle her.  Fortunately, this attacker, a 31-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and detained by police following this bizarre and near-deadly attack.[4]  This terrifying incident mirrors the assault on Erika Rothenberger and underscores the urgent need to strengthen Pennsylvania’s laws to address the act of stranger-on-stranger strangulation. 
 
Even more absurd is the fact that had Erika’s attacker only threatened to strangle her, he could have been charged with terroristic threats—a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a higher maximum penalty than the actual act of strangling a stranger. In other words, our laws currently punish threats more severely than the brutal act itself.
 
Strangulation is a highly dangerous and potentially lethal act of violence, regardless of the relationship between the victim and perpetrator. Multiple studies have found that non-fatal strangulation is a “significant predictor for future lethal violence.” Research published in the National Library of Medicine has shown that victims of prior non-fatal strangulation are more than six times as likely to become victims of attempted homicide, and more than seven times as likely to be killed.
 
In the years following the assault, Erika has become a champion for victims of violent crime and has publicly advocated for legislation to increase the penalties for strangulation.  In response, I am introducing a three-bill package known as “Erika’s Law” to address the legal deficiencies currently in place. 
 
Please join me in cosponsoring this vital legislative package to ensure that our laws reflect the seriousness of strangulation and provide greater protection for all Pennsylvanians.