Wrong place, wrong time: woman stabbed

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. (WOOD) - A 23-year-old woman, who police believe was "at the wrong place at the wrong time," was hospitalized after being stabbed multiple times at an Ionia County mobile home park early Tuesday morning.

The pregnant woman was staying the night at a friend's house at the Lakewood Mobile Estates off Tupper Lake Street in Lake Odessa. Just before 5 a.m., the police were called to the home and found the injured Sunfield woman.

Neighbor Melissa Baldwin heard the screams from her house and rushed to answer the pleas for help.

"It looked like almost something out of a horror picture, like blood," she told 24 Hour News 8. "That's all I can keep saying."

The woman was bleeding from the head, chest and hand. She was rushed to a Grand Rapids hospital for treatment of her wounds.

"She kept grabbing at her chest, like somebody stabbed her in the her chest, and I'm like, 'Dear God,' and she's telling me that she's pregnant and everything."

She told Baldwin her neighbor's ex-boyfriend had broken in and stabbed the first person he saw laying on the couch. It happened to be his ex-girlfriend's woman friend.

"I think it was a matter of opportunity for him, and in her case, (being in) the wrong place at the wrong time," said Lake Odessa Police Chief Mark Bender.

Initially, police believed the woman had a relationship with her alleged assailant, a 38-year-old man from Grand Ledge. They later said the woman had no relationship whatsoever with the man.

They believe the intended victim was the homeowner, who is also pregnant.

At the time of the attack, three children -- all under the age of 9 -- were asleep in the home. None of them were hurt.

Baldwin told 24 Hour News 8 this is not the first time this man was violent in that home, and she said she knew her neighbor feared for her life.

"Supposedly she had a phone call with him and he told her that he was going to kill her and the baby," Baldwin said.

The man is being held without bond and will be arraigned Wednesday on four charges:

• Assault with intent to murder
• Home invasion, 1st degree
• Aggravated stalking
• Domestic Violence

The aggravated stalking charge was filed because he violated a Personal Protection Order his ex-girlfriend took out recently when he broke into the home.

At last report, the woman remain hospitalized but the police chief said she is expected to recover.