Stabbing victim speaks

GARDENDALE A Gardendale man who was reportedly high on methamphetamines attacked his wife with a knife early Tuesday and injured her 7-year-old son before cutting himself several times, authorities said.

Kenny Lee Thompson, 32, was arrested in the 5500 block of Marigold Street after a six-hour manhunt that caused a local elementary school to go into lockdown.

The victim, Kara L. Travis, 27, said she was in good condition late Tuesday and recovering from wounds to her arm and leg at Medical Center Hospital. She said her son sustained only minor injuries and was released from the hospital.

Two other children were home at the time of the attack but were not harmed, authorities said.

The search began after 7 a.m. after Travis called 9-1-1. Authorities said Thompson dragged Travis out of bed and began beating her with a flashlight and stabbing her in the living room. A news release issued by the Sheriff’s Office said the 7-year-old boy “ran to help his mom and then he was also stabbed in the left forearm.”

But in a telephone interview from her hospital bed, Travis disputed that account and insisted the boy’s injuries were accidental.

“He went to set him on the couch,” Travis said of Thompson cutting her son. “My son did not get stabbed intentionally.”

Thompson fled the trailer park on Pecan Street and ran through pastures in the area, authorities said. He eventually went to the home of an acquaintance where he stayed for some time before authorities received calls about his whereabouts from residents in the area and arrested him, Sgt. Gary Duesler said.

Thompson was charged with two counts of aggravated assault family violence.

The search prompted Barbara Jordan Elementary to lock its doors for 25 minutes, school officials said. Inside, the school day proceeded as usual, but no one was allowed to enter or leave the school.

The 7-year-old injured in the stabbing Tuesday attends the school, and ECISD communications director Mike Adkins said counselors would be on hand today for any students wishing to discuss the attack.

In the interview Tuesday, Travis blamed the Sheriff’s Office for not preventing the attack. She said she asked sheriff’s deputies to arrest Thompson last weekend and called several times to complain about his drug abuse, adding he had been high for several days. 

“None of this would have happened if the deputies had done their job,” Travis said. “I wanted him to leave. He gets crazy when he gets on drugs.”

Sheriff Mark Donaldson confirmed Tuesday night that his deputies went out to the residence at least once Saturday in reference to a child custody matter. But he said there was nothing his deputies could do about Thompson and no apparent threat of violence.

“You can’t just arrest somebody out of his own house if you don’t catch him with drugs,” Donaldson said. “There has to be a reason to arrest somebody, like family violence.”

Thompson’s sister, Donya Thompson, said she has grown frustrated with the lack of options available for her brother. She said he has struggled with drug problems for years and also has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

“They’re making him look so horrible,” she said. “It’s not like it’s something he did in his own mind. I just don’t understand why there’s no help for people like this.”

Travis said she understands why Thompson was taken to jail Tuesday. But she said she hopes he eventually will be placed in rehabilitation.

“I want him to get help,” Travis said. “I don’t wish nothing bad on him.”