On June 5, 1986, the promising career and serene beauty of 24-year-old model Marla Hanson were brutally shattered in a heinous act of violence that sent shockwaves through New York City. What began as a simple attempt to retrieve a security deposit from her landlord, Steven Roth, escalated into a terrifying ordeal that left her permanently disfigured. Yet, the physical scars were only the beginning; the system designed to deliver justice would soon inflict wounds just as deep.
The Attack: A Vicious Betrayal Marla Hanson met Steven Roth outside a Manhattan bar to collect an $850 security deposit. Roth had previously made unwanted romantic advances, which Hanson had firmly rebuffed. As they walked, two men—Darren Norman and Steven Bowman—ambushed her. While one held her head, the other used razor blades to carve deep, S-shaped gashes across her cheeks. Roth, the mastermind who hired them, stood by and watched. The attack required over 150 stitches and ended her modeling career instantly.
The Courtroom Horror: Victims on Trial While the attackers were eventually sentenced to 5–15 years, the trial became a secondary crime scene. Defense attorney Alton Maddox launched a brutal character assassination against Hanson. He called her a “lying bitch,” claimed she “preyed on men,” and suggested she had “racial hangups” regarding her attackers.
Hanson later stated that the courtroom experience was worse than the physical attack itself. She was shocked that the law allowed a victim to be humiliated and “put on trial” for her own assault.
Resilience and Legacy Refusing to remain a victim, Marla Hanson became a powerful advocate for victims’ rights. She campaigned to change how witnesses are treated in court, ensuring that the legal system cannot be used as a tool for further abuse. Today, she is a screenwriter and a beacon of hope for other slashing survivors, helping them heal from both the physical and emotional trauma of their past.