At the age of 90, Margaret Fine has faced danger before. A recent copperhead snakebite almost killed her. Hurricane Isabel destroyed her Baltimore County home. But Fine said a man who viciously assaulted her at an office is one fear that haunts her.

Even though the assailant, Frank Mahlman, was committed to Spring Grove mental institution for striking her in the head with a bag of rocks, he continues to escape the state-run facility ? most recently in October ? showing up at Fine?s home.