Annette Emerson

Annette Emerson delivered an unsworn victim impact statement at sentencing on Day 67. She described fleeing the Marathon bombings with her ears buzzing and reported hearing loss and a mild traumatic brain injury. She said she remained under medical care and struggled to retain new information, shift between tasks, and retrieve words while speaking.

Emerson also described posttraumatic stress, disrupted sleep, fatigue, and heightened vigilance around crowds. She said attending the 2014 and 2015 Boston Marathons required her to confront persistent fears for her safety. She expressed determination to reclaim her life and described letting go of anger and forgiving as part of that effort.

She explained that treatment imposed financial strain on her limited income. Traveling from Maine to Boston for care involved physical demands and travel costs, alongside copayments and treatments not covered by insurance.