Woman stabbed repeatedly during robbery attempt at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital
MILWAUKEE, WIS. April 9 2018
Prosecutors charged a Milwaukee man with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and armed robbery in connection with the stabbing of a woman in the Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital parking garage last week.
According to the criminal complaint, 53-year-old James Dedrew stabbed the 56-year-old woman 14 times before taking off with her purse.
The victim was heading to her car after visiting her mother in the ICU when Dedrew demanded her purse and threatened to kill her, according to the complaint.
The victim told investigators before she could react, Dedrew pulled out a knife and began to stab her repeatedly in the chest, at which time she dropped her purse and backed away, but he advanced toward her and continued to stab her in the arms, face, head and chest.
“I gave him my purse, but he stabbed me anyway,” the victim told investigators.
Two good Samaritans rushed to help. One tended to the victim, while the other chased after the attacker before losing sight of him. A security guard ran into the hospital to get help.
The victim underwent surgery and remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit and “has been unable to visit her mother, who still remains in the ICU,” according to the complaint.
Milwaukee police followed a blood trail left by the suspect to a bus stop. After reviewing bus surveillance video, police found Dedrew at a third bus stop at 35th and Wells streets and took him into custody.
“When approaching, the Defendant immediately stated he was ‘not going to talk to them’ and demanded a lawyer. The officers immediately observed the Defendant had a significant amount of blood all over his clothing and face,” according to the complaint.
Dedrew spent about 10 years in prison for a similar crime in 2006. He was released on parole in August.
wisn.com
