By Merab-Michal Favorite
Charlotte Sun
PUNTA GORDA — The victim of a stabbing Saturday night told authorities that her attacker was upset because she had bought toilet paper at Walmart, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim, a 23-year-old Punta Gorda woman, had been staying with the suspect, Michael See, 19, and his parents at their mobile home on the 11200 block of Pineapple Road, according to neighbors.
She told detectives that See became agitated after she returned home from a bike ride to the Punta Gorda Walmart, where she purchased toilet paper, according to the report.
See began ripping up the toilet paper, and then started beating the victim, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office report. See allegedly knocked her to the ground and banged her head on the kitchen floor, then stuck a knife in her right eye, twisting the knife. The woman told detectives See tried to slit her throat but she kept blocking the knife with her hands.
After pleading with See not to kill her, she managed to escape, running to neighbor John McPherson’s house, where she collapsed on the porch, the report stated.
The victim was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital, where she underwent surgery and was in stable condition Monday, according to the Sheriff’s Office. She is expected to remain at the hospital for several days.
See fled on foot, spurring a nine-hour manhunt that lasted throughout Saturday night. He was arrested at 4:15 a.m. Sunday morning.
See is being held at the Charlotte County Jail without bond on a charge of attempted murder. His first court appearance is scheduled for March 25.
The victim was ‘lucky to be alive,’ a family member told the Sun Monday.
‘The attack was very traumatic, and a life-changing event for the family, and something she will have to cope with for the rest of her life,’ her relative said.
McPherson said he believed See became upset after his parents asked some of his friends to leave. McPherson said See’s parents were not home during the attack. See’s parents could not be reached for comment.
This wasn’t the first time See has been accused of a violent act. In February 2012, he was accused of assaulting a school official at Charlotte High School. Authorities said See threatened to hit an administrator with a chair. Several other staff members said that while See was getting the chair, he said, ‘I just want to kill her,’ according to the report.
The assault charge against See was later dropped. A spokesperson for the State Attorney’s Office could not be reached for comment.
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