We have an update on Todd Boettger, the man who was robbed and left for dead in Greenwood early Tuesday morning. “He has been heavily sedated, basically a drug induced coma since the incident,” writes his younger brother Forrest Boettger in an email. But there is a glimmer of hope. “He opened his eyes for just a moment and tried to move his upper right arm as if wanting to remove the ventilator,” Forrest explains. Todd is the single father of 6-year-old Lillian, who saw her dad at the Harborview ICU after the attack. “I don’t want to go back, it doesn’t look like Daddy!” she exclaimed.
The Boettger family, who sent us these photos, wants to know the identity of a woman who was seen attending to Todd on Greenwood Ave. near 85th after the attack. “This woman has disappeared but was seen kneeling down next to my brother,” Forrest says. “She was in her mid to late 20’s with red hair, wearing a brown sweatshirt, brown khakis and tennis shoes.” The family is hoping she witnessed the attack and can help police with the investigation.
If you’d like to help, the family has set up the “Todd Boettger Relief Fund,” where you can donate at any U.S. Bank to help pay for medical bills and care for Lillian. “If Todd does pull through, he will need facial recontructive surgery to repair the left cruched cheek bone and left eye socket fracture and many, many months of rehabilitation,” Forrest explains.
Epilogue Books (2001 NW Market St) has set up a donation jar for those who only have spare change, a few dollars, or can’t get to the bank.
21 responses so far ↓
1 gardenguy // Apr 24, 2009 at 5:45 am
we moved into the neighborhood a year ago and find this very troubling. How sad for this man and his family, and for all of us. We had someone try to break into our house last week while we were sleeping, and good thing I put some wooden dowels in the windows. Now we’re installing an ADT security system. I’ve heard several people mention the nostalgia of these bars, but for those of us who own homes here- who have a financial interest in the neighborhood- I would be happy to see all 3 go. The best thing to happen to Greenwood is development. Hopefully the Piper Creek development and Naked City are the beginning of the wave.
2 spring // Apr 24, 2009 at 7:12 am
I would talk to the bartender who worked that night and the karyoki guy. One of them should know who she was. Not to be racial or any thing but for the past year there has been a group of young black gang bangers hanging out in that area. Last summer I heard of alot of people at the safeway bus stop talking about thier friends leaving the bars and getting beat up real bad and robbed by them, some were old men who were beat up. I seen about 10 of them gang up on one boy, one even said he was going back to his car to get his 9 mm. The police were called but didn’t show up for 20 minutes after it was over. One car showed up and there was still a group of them on the side of Safeway arguing , the cop rolled down his window and asked them if every thing was alright, they said ya and he drove off. This is how they respond to large groups of gang bangers, after it’s over. I have also seen them ripp Safeway off time after time. When summer comes you will see it any time of the day. I hope your brother recovers and they get these guys.
3 Whopper // Apr 24, 2009 at 8:02 am
“find this very troubling.”
Sure it’s troubling, but a surprise?
Man gets beaten half to death outside a notorious dive bar at 130 am on a week night?
“The best thing to happen to Greenwood is development.”
Bring on gentrification. Pretty soon the Baranoff will be serving martinis and manhattans and a beat-down on Greenwood Ave will be when someone in a Prius steals your parking spot outside your favorite fair trade coffee shop.
4 jm // Apr 24, 2009 at 9:33 am
This story is sickening!
You do see some hard cases walking around Greenwood Ave. in the daytime. Grubby Greenwood will never be as mellow as it used to be. There are too many desperate people wandering around these days. Is there some kind of halfway house in that area?
5 Phinneyman // Apr 24, 2009 at 9:37 am
Whopper: Thank you for using a beating of this innocent fellow as an opportunity to educate everyone. We now know of anohter person who laments the tragedy of greenwood’s gentrification. (Yawn). It wasn’t a suprise to you because apparently, you’re smarter than everyone else and expect these kinds of things. Perhaps you should seek professional help.
Your posting is generous with negativity but stingy with solutions. Forgive me for tending to agree with Gardenguy and Spring. This neighborhood feels like it’s going downhill and we should all take steps to improve things. I’m constantly trying to keep the sidewalk and alley clean and seek to maintain good relationships with my neighbors. I hate the bars. More of them keep opening. I will discuss it with the mayor and city officials. I’m also in favor of a neighborhood watch program and have encourage the local police to patrol more often. But let’s all not hesitate to call the police if we see something suspicious. Being more vigalent, especially late at night, will increase the chance that these criminals will be caught. I hope this guy makes it.
6 etta // Apr 24, 2009 at 10:36 am
Phinneyman, check out http://www.gainseattle.com/ a group worth looking into.
7 Greenwood_D // Apr 24, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Whopper love to entertain himself
I hope they build a Walmart in his backyard. I would love to trample through his azaleas and piss on his Vespa on my way in. That’s how us po’ uneducated folk do it in Greenwood, right?
Vigilance is the key.
Cops aren’t gonna save ya.
Espresso shops aren’t gonna save ya.
City Council isn’t gonna save ya.
Watch out for each other, be aware of your surroundings and get a concealed weapons permit if you must.
8 jm // Apr 24, 2009 at 1:07 pm
We’d like to see more police on duty at night. Isn’t there more criminal activity during the night?
9 Greenwood_D // Apr 24, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I understand, jm, but like someone said earlier.
Cops are underfunded because our lawmakers spend so damn much on social welfare and self-washing port-a-potties. The Budget deficits we are in are only going to make matters worth. When will we make these politicians be accountable for a Budget????
Even when cops ARE around, they have to actually witness something for the bad guys to actually get in trouble.
I have stated before on this Blog, even if you have a credible witness, chances are nothing will happen. I have witnessed this first hand in some
crimes committed in this neighborhood.
If there is (God forbid), a homicide here, then they will be all over it just to make sure media perceptions aren’t bad. A death gets people stirred up and then they will be Johnny-Law-On-The-Spot. Otherwise, you can catch them hanging out in the Krispy Kreme parking lot (I’m not kidding on this) or hiding out around the Zoo to hand out speeding tickets.
10 D. // Apr 24, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I walked by two police cars parked in the Fred Meyer parking lot last night right next to the road. There was flirtatious giggling coming from one car. They didn’t seem to be there doing anything. Wish they would get out of the cars and onto the streets.
11 Forrest Boettger // Apr 24, 2009 at 3:06 pm
The real issue here is that there is a lack of compassion for the human life. If you would like to help my brother and his daughter you can go to any US Bank and donate to the Todd Boettger Relief Fund. If I lived back in my beautiful city I would start some kind of watch group that is coordinated w/ the SPD. I hope whoever is next is not one of you or the ones you love and care for. Step up Seattle take back your streets. This happened to someone who would have done anything for you had he known you or had the means to do it.
Forrest Boettger, little bro
12 Greenwood_D // Apr 24, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Man’s inhumanity to man.
An age-old dilemma that seems to always plague us.
I apologize for my part in deviating from the topic of injustice that has occurred to your big brother.
My Mom and I sent a prayer out to you and yours yesterday and I hope Todd continues to recover.
I am willing to make a donation and volunteer any time I have for a benefit in his name.
13 Carrie // Apr 24, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Please know that Todd and his entire family are in my prayers. My son when to school with Lillian at Greenwood last year, and Todd and I would talk a lot in the mornings. What a great man.
I am so sorry this has happened to him.
14 The Boss of You // Apr 24, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Yeah, I have encountered Todd with his little girl with my toddler on the playground. Very nice duo. My family will be making a donation.
15 aaron // Apr 24, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Is there a way to donate online? I would like to give something, but not sure if I’ll make it to the bank (travelling, etc.)
16 Forrest Boettger // Apr 24, 2009 at 8:23 pm
aaron, you can always mail a check to any US Bank or stop by any of them throughout the US. If you would like to mail me a check directly you can make it out to the Todd Boettger Relief Fund and I will get it there. you may email me at for my address. Thank you
17 105th Green-E // Apr 28, 2009 at 12:10 am
Well as much as I’d like to be shocked about this, it hardly surprises me in this area. I’m not forgetting about Todd and his families feelings here. I wish him and his family the best of course. But have you ever tried to call the North Precinct? It’s like they could give a crap about anything. I had a hard time getting anyone to call me back about an incident that I had a few months ago. Do you think the city has enough money to get the type of protection we need in this area? Enough money to keep up with the crime activity in this area? Maybe, maybe not…BUT I do know they installed a rather “flashy” (no pun intended) camera on 105th and Greenwood with a $ amount of about $7,000 a peace. I also noticed the city is installing new light and electrical poles for all the new town home construction going along Greenwood. O and how I do enjoy the site of seeing the same bum walk along my alley way with a brew in his hand everyday that is housed up by a local Government Owned facility that we pay for. What about voting for delegates that have the balls to beef up the police force. What about sending e-mails to your local representatives. Call them, bug them. O and what about all you people out there that own a $500,000 home in this area? Concerned? You should be. Take a good look at how much you pay in taxes every year. Hmmm, I wonder if that’s upsetting to you…If you sit back and think about it, maybe it will inspire you home owners to get up out of your gardens and take some damn action. BUT, until this day happens, I don’t see much changing.
Again, not to steer the conversation away from Todd and his family, but this is reality people. Did this have to happen to help everyone understand what is going on in this area? Come on….
18 105th Green-E // Apr 28, 2009 at 12:22 am
O and Forrest, as cold as my last comment may have sounded, believe me. I am truly bothered by what had happened to your brother. I’m very frustrated and confused that one or a few indaviduals could actually be so heartless as to do this to your brother. I hope they catch the F*&)ers who did this.
I’m hoping the best for Todd my friend…
God Bless
19 gardenguy // Apr 28, 2009 at 7:40 am
after waking up to discover someone had tried to break into our home the night before while we were sleeping, I called the cops. Figuring I should look presentable, jumped in the shower and was out about 90 seconds later. The cops were already knocking on my door and I had to scramble to get dressed before they left. In all reality, they probably arrived between 5 and 10 minutes after I placed the initial call. Not bad!
So, 105th Green-E, perhaps you had a bad experience, or I had a good one, but so far the Police seem fairly responsive.
Any changes to Todd’s medical status?
20 105th Green-E // Apr 28, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Well, of course. It’s all situational my friend. I’m sure we can come up with plenty of good situations with the local department. However if you are chalking up my comment to the responce time in which the police can get to your door, I probably was not clear on my points… That was simply one of several points I was trying to relay.
However, good to here that in your case Gardenguy, they where on it. Important to here the good as well as the bad right?
I havent heard anyting on his status for the last 3 days. I would like to know as well.
Anyone?
, of course. It’s all situational my friend
21 CIL // May 6, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I am Todd’s cousin. Todd is recovering slowly but surely at Harborview. He had reconstructive surgery, and has been moved from ICU. He is still in a very confused state. But he knows his family members, and is now starting to communicate. When I visited him on May 2, he was “singing” while I was getting an update from the nurse before visiting him.
On a side note: I used to live down there a few years back. I still have family down there. Family that is too afraid to call the cops on the neighbors punk offspring who is dealing drugs out of their alley. As all of us know, the criminal will be out on bail within a day. And a restraining order WILL NOT stop a drug dealer/user. It’s really the same old sad story. You can’t turn them in until they do something that will get them some serious time. And in the meantime, you have all kinds of crazy druggies in your alley buying their next high. So, yes. The grannies and parents with young kids weigh the cost of turning in the neighborhood drug dealer. If anyone knows a SAFE and REALISTIC course of action, I welcome your comments.
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