OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A woman is accused of stabbing two children and their father Tuesday in Osceola County, according to the sheriff’s office.
Court documents show Doris Espinoza-Rodriguez, 38, was arrested after the attack.
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Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said Espinoza-Rodriguez got into a verbal argument with her boyfriend, the father of the two children, when they went out to dinner on Tuesday. The argument continued when they got home, Lopez added.
“This is a very odd relationship. They weren’t really in a relationship where they come home and sleep in the same room,” Lopez said. “And it is domestic, but it was like not a relationship (where they’re) all living as a family.”
According to investigators, Espinoza-Rodriguez said she wanted to harm herself, as well as the father and the children — ages 14 and 10.
As the father and his children tried to calm her, Espinoza-Rodriguez pulled out a knife and attacked the three, records show.
“The dad noticed that she had a knife he told her he was calling the police and (Espinoza-Rodriguez) ran into the house yelling,” Lopez said. “(Espinoza-Rodriguez) took that knife and stabbed the 10-year-old. The 14-year-old attempted to separate (Espinoza-Rodriguez) from his sister and was also stabbed.”
The children were transported to the hospital, where Lopez said their conditions are improving.
The father’s hands were also injured trying to disarm Espinoza-Rodriguez, records show. After the father tossed the knife away, the 14-year-old called 911, Lopez said, adding his actions were truly heroic.
“Even though he was 14 years old, it’s his sister, and he knew that her life was in danger and she could actually die. He immediately ran in there trying to save the life of his little sister, which he potentially probably did, and received stab wounds in the process. He is truly a hero,” Lopez said. “And you know and it goes to show that the love of a sibling, you know how far you’ll go to defend your sister your brother.”
Espinoza-Rodriguez faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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