Suncoast: Woman Arrested After Attacking Child With Knife – Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
CCSO
A woman is in the Charlotte County Jail after stabbing a 12-year-old in the face and neck and attempting to hide her body, though still alive.
In the afternoon of Monday, May 26, Charlotte County deputies responded to the Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area in reference to a 12-year-old with cuts to the face and neck who was found by passing bystanders. As they arrived, they found the victim to be weak and in need of immediate medical attention. The victim was only able to tell deputies that the suspect, identified as Gwendolyn Girard (07/18/1989), had attacked her with a knife and left her under the brush before leaving in a gold-colored van.
Through investigative means, the van was located in North Fort Myers by members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with Girard at the same location. The van was towed to impound, and Girard was transported for questioning. During this time, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit secured a warrant for her arrest on charges of Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Child Abuse.
The Major Crimes detectives interviewed Girard and obtained a full confession to include the location of the knife used in the attack.
“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.”
Sheriff Bill Prummell
Gwendolyn Girard is being held at the Charlotte County Jail with a $750,000 bond. The victim has been treated for her wounds and is in stable condition.
This investigation remains open at this time.