Two sent to HMC
By MIKE CORN
Investigators were hoping this morning to be able to talk with the two people who were hospitalized overnight with stab wounds reported to Hays Police early Monday evening.
Initial reports from the two indicated someone had forced their way into the apartment where the two were living and assaulted them. But conflicting evidence is suggesting the possibility that the incident might be contrived, and could be a domestic disturbance that resulted in police intervention.
Hays Police were called at about 6 p.m. Monday to Midway Apartments near 20th and Vine to the report of a stabbing, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.
There, two victims were found -- a male and a female -- both suffering from stab wounds. They were taken by ambulance to Hays Medical Center, Drees said, where they were treated and remained in the hospital overnight.
The woman, 29 years old, and the 27-year-old man were only briefly able to recount what had happened as they were being loaded into the ambulances, Drees said.
Because of the medical care being given, investigators were unable to talk with either of them Monday night.
Pending the chance to talk to them, Drees and Hays Police Chief Jim Braun this morning declined to identify them.
The woman, Drees said, suffered at least one stab wound and one slash-type injury on her wrist and arm. Her wounds were more serious, he said, and she had lost quite a bit of blood as a result.
The man, Drees said, had puncture wounds on his neck and shoulder, but they were "not very deep as far as knife wounds go."
"The original report to law enforcement was that two unknown assailants forced entry into the apartment and attacked them," Drees said of the brief conversation officers had with the two occupants of the apartment.
But, he said, there was no sign of forced entry into the apartment, and neighbors told police of hearing arguments coming from the apartment during much of the afternoon. No one reported seeing anyone else in the area at the time of the assault.
"There's certainly conflicting reports," Drees said of the information that has been made available to police.
As a result, police are looking at all possibilities.
"Police are investigating both aspects of whether this was an attack by other persons or whether this was a domestic disturbance," Drees said.
The opportunity to interview both victims will provide police with additional insight, he said.
"They got about 30 seconds with each of them as EMS was loading them in an ambulance," he said. "They have not been interviewed as of yet."
Despite the conflicting evidence, Drees said he doesn't think there is any danger to the public.
"If this was an attack, it was not random," he said. "Therefore, we do not think the public is in danger."
As well, Drees said the two have had brushes with the law in the past and both currently are on probation in other cases.
"Both have previous felony convictions," Drees aid. "He has received a battery conviction where she is the victim."
The man was sentenced just last week on two counts of burglary, felony criminal damage to property and domestic battery.
She was sentenced in mid-April on a charge of burglary and criminal damage to property.
