Hopewell stabbing victim released from hospital - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

A local grandmother, who was stabbed June 11 for refusing to buy drugs from a dealer, is now out of the hospital and recovering at home.

Melody Bennett has more than 16 stab and cut wounds in what is being called a "vicious attack." She has six stitches on her head, 12 on her hands, and another dozen near her rib cage.

"The whole time he was whaling on my head and come to find out he wasn't hitting me he was stabbing me in the head," said Bennett. "I've never seen this boy a day in my life. The knife broke off in my body. The handle was completely gone and the knife was inside me."

Bennett said a young man, whom she didn't know, knocked on her door and offered drugs around 9:30 p.m. June 11, in the 1500 block of Roanoke Avenue.

"I said, 'Dude, I'm not looking for anything — thank you but no thank you.'"

She said about 20 minutes later, she was walking out of her home when the same young man attacked.

"He lunged at me, grabbed me, knocked me to the ground and said give me your money old lady. I'm screaming the whole time at the top of my lungs - 'Help, help, help!'"

The culprit took off, but Bennett now lives in fear.

"I'm scared to go outside. It's terrible. It's like being a prisoner in your own home."

Bennett has a message for the public and her attacker.

"You know you were wrong with what you did to me. I did not ask for it and I did not deserve it. I know there's someone who knows who did this, and if it were your mom, would you want them to get away with it?"

Bennett admits she's had issues with drugs in the past but has been clean an sober for five years.

She's grateful for all of the well wishes and is praying her attacker is caught soon.

The suspect is described as a man between the ages of 17 and 21. He has bushy eyebrows, shoulder length hair, and was possibly wearing a white t-shirt and dark shorts during the crime.

If you have information that can help police, please call Crime Solvers at 541-2202.

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