Boy Stabs, Attempts to Drown and Asphyxiate Woman, Police Say

A 15-year-old Attleboro male was arraigned Thursday in Taunton Juvenile Court for attempted murder and various other charges after he stabbed, attempted to drown and attempted to kill by asphyxiation a 63-year-old female neighbor Wednesday night, Attleboro police reported. The victim is at Rhode Island Hospital, and her injuries are not considered life-threatening, according to the police.

The stabbing happened at the woman's home on 91 Cumberland Ave. in Attleboro, and the boy drove the victim to a pond near the Seekonk line, where he attempted to drown her, Detective Sgt. Arthur Brillon said. The suspect then attempted at a third location to kill the victim by clogging a tailpipe of a vehicle with her in it, he said.

Investigators were at Brennan Middle and Studley Elementary schools early Thursday morning, but Brillon stressed this was because evidence may have been discarded in the area, and the incident had no connection to the school district.

"At no point were the schools in danger," Brillon said. "We were looking for potential evidence that may have been discarded. At no time did it involve children, and police officers cleared the area before the school day began."

The woman was startled at approximately 10 p.m. by the presence of the teen in her home, an Attleboro police press release states. The two know each other and live on the same street, police say.

"The male attacked the resident and a struggle ensued," the release states. "During the attack, the resident received multiple stab wounds to the torso and neck."

Police say the suspect then drove the woman against her will to a second location near the Seekonk line.

"She was removed from the vehicle and dragged into a pond in an attempt to drown her," police say. "After being unsuccessful, the male placed the woman back into her car and drove to a third location where he attempted to clog her tailpipe with an article of clothing in an attempt to asphyxiate her. While the male was doing this, the victim was able to get free, get behind the driver's wheel and flee, leaving the suspect behind."

Police say the victim drove to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, where police were contacted. The suspect was soon after arrested at his home. He was held at the Attleboro police station until he could be transferred to the Taunton court.

The suspect faces charges of attempted murder, assault with intent to murder, assault and battery upon a person over 60 thereby causing injury, home invasion, kidnapping, intimidation of a witness and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

The names of the suspect and victim were not released.

The case remains under investigation. Those who have any information on it should contact the Attleboro police at 508-223-2224.