A 12-year-old Florida girl survived a horrific stabbing attack by her mother by playing dead until she could escape and flag down help.
At a Glance
- A 12-year-old girl in Charlotte County, Florida survived a stabbing attack allegedly carried out by her mother, Gwendolyn Girard
- The girl saved her own life by playing dead after being stabbed multiple times in the face and neck
- Girard reportedly told the girl she was killing her to prevent others from gaining custody
- After the mother left, the injured child flagged down a passing truck for help
- Girard has been arrested on charges of aggravated battery with great bodily harm and aggravated child abuse
A Mother’s Betrayal
What began as a normal outing turned into a nightmare for a 12-year-old girl in Charlotte County, Florida. According to law enforcement reports, the girl and her mother, Gwendolyn Girard, had visited a Culver’s restaurant before heading to the Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area, where Girard claimed they were attending a photography class. Once at the remote location, the situation took a horrific turn when Girard allegedly attacked her daughter with a knife.
The arrest report reveals disturbing details of the attack. Girard allegedly grabbed her daughter by the head, pinned her down, and attempted to stab her in the heart. The brave child fought back, using her hands to block the knife, resulting in defensive wounds. When Girard managed to stab the girl in the neck, the situation became even more dire. The mother’s apparent motive was equally shocking.
Quick Thinking Saves a Young Life
Facing a life-threatening situation, the 12-year-old made a split-second decision that would ultimately save her life. As the attack continued, the girl stopped fighting and pretended to be dead. This quick thinking proved effective as Girard believed she had successfully killed her daughter. According to reports, Girard attempted to drag the child to a body of water before changing her mind and instead covering her with brush and debris.
“She said she played dead. She said she fought her mother off as long as she could, and then she played dead, and then her mom left her there.”, said Eunice Kent.
The report indicates that Girard checked on her daughter twice while the girl maintained her lifesaving deception. Only after her mother finally left the scene did the severely injured child emerge from hiding. Despite multiple stab wounds, the girl managed to flag down a passing truck on a nearby road. The driver immediately contacted authorities, who responded to find the child with severe cuts to her face and neck requiring urgent medical attention.
A Disturbing Motive
Investigators have uncovered what may have motivated this shocking act of violence. According to the arrest report, Girard told the child she was killing her to prevent others from taking custody. “She heard her say that everyone was trying to kill [redacted] and take custody of her, so [redacted] was going to kill her first so that no one else can,” the report states. This disturbing reasoning has left both law enforcement and the community struggling to comprehend such a violent act against a child.
“In my 33-year career, there are only a handful of times that I have been left speechless. This is one of those times. To attack a child with a knife…I can’t understand it. It is only by God’s grace that she is still with us today, and I pray for her as she heals from this horrific incident. Unfortunately, the mental trauma inflicted on her may never heal.”, said Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell.
Justice and Recovery
Following the attack, authorities located Girard in nearby Lee County. During questioning, she reportedly confessed to the crime and revealed the location of the weapon used in the attack. Girard has been charged with aggravated battery with great bodily harm and aggravated child abuse. She is currently being held on a $750,000 bond and will be extradited to the Charlotte County Jail as the legal process moves forward.
“All the wounds appear to be knife-inflicted from all the reports that I’ve read. There were stab wounds. There were cut wounds. There were defensive wounds on the victim’s hands as well, where she tried to block some of the attack.”, said Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Chris Hall.
The 12-year-old victim is currently in stable condition at a local hospital. While her physical wounds are being treated, the emotional trauma from such a betrayal will require long-term care and support. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to gather additional evidence and ensure justice for this young survivor whose remarkable presence of mind saved her own life.
