The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A domestic dispute in eastern South Dakota reportedly escalated into a near-fatal stabbing while a couple was packing up their home.
According to court documents, the incident happened last weekend inside a residence. A woman and her fiancé were reportedly arguing while boxing up belongings when the disagreement allegedly turned physical. Investigators reported that the woman grabbed a knife measuring roughly eight to ten inches, which had been stored in the kitchen area.
Police allege she stabbed her fiancé in the chest. The man reportedly collapsed and told her he was bleeding badly and needed immediate medical help. Instead of calling for assistance, the woman allegedly drove him toward the hospital.
Around 1:30 p.m., authorities were alerted to a vehicle speeding through town and ignoring traffic signals. Officers later learned the injured man was inside the car and was experiencing severe distress, reportedly telling the driver that his vision was fading and that everything felt like it was closing in.
The victim was eventually dropped off at a local hospital emergency room with a stab wound to the upper left side of his chest. Medical staff determined he had suffered a collapsed lung and other life-threatening injuries.
Investigators later connected the injuries to the earlier incident at the home. Police located the woman roughly two miles from the hospital and took her into custody. She allegedly told officers she had recently used methamphetamine, claimed someone else stabbed her fiancé, and acknowledged driving him to the hospital.
The woman was taken into custody and booked into the Codington County Detention Center. She is facing a preliminary charge of attempted murder in the second degree, in addition to a drug charge and allegations that she violated the terms of her probation. At the time this was written, she was being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
The alleged victim spoke to the authorities when they came to the hospital, but there is currently no update about his condition.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.