Custody struggle for victim

GARDENDALE A Gardendale woman who survived a stabbing this week is recovering from her injuries and could be released from the hospital as early as today, her mother said. But the attack that landed Kara L. Travis in the hospital and her husband, Kenny Lee Thompson, behind bars could have farther-reaching effects as Travis turns her attention to regaining custody of her three children, Travis’ mother said.

Travis was rushed Tuesday morning to Medical Center Hospital after authorities said Thompson dragged her out of bed and stabbed her multiple times in their mobile home on Pecan Street. Ector County sheriff’s officials said Thompson also stabbed Travis’ 7-year-old son.

After a six-hour manhunt, Thompson, 32, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault. He was being held Wednesday in the Ector County Detention Center on bonds totaling $150,000. 

On Wednesday, Travis’ mother, Karen Travis, said Child Protective Services had intervened and placed the children with relatives due to the domestic violence. She said her daughter would have to file for temporary custody once she is released from the hospital.

Merleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Family Services, could not confirm the intervention by CPS but said the agency had not taken full custody of the children. Kara Travis could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Kara Travis disputed an Ector County Sheriff’s Office account of the attack, insisting Thompson did not intentionally harm her son but cut him on the arm by accident as he picked him up. On Wednesday, Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson said it did not matter whether Thompson intended to cut the boy and that the appropriate charges were filed in the case.

Kara Travis has faulted the Sheriff’s Office for not arresting Thompson last weekend after she called deputies to complain of her husband’s drug abuse. She said her husband was high on methamphetamines when he attacked her.

Local court documents show Tuesday was not the first time the authorities responded to a domestic disturbance between Kara Travis and Thompson. Both were arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault in 2005, though the cases were dismissed the following year.

Thompson also has a long list of misdemeanor convictions ranging from driving while intoxicated to theft.