A North Dakota woman is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly attacking her sleeping boyfriend with a hatchet earlier this month in Fargo.
Lena Deoliveira, 23, is accused of striking her boyfriend, Jonathan Granados, in the head with the weapon around 5 a.m. on Sept. 5 while the two were staying in a garage, according to court documents cited by InForum. Granados was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, including deep lacerations to his fingers and a large wound on his head.
Police responded to the scene after a man who was also staying in the garage called for help. The witness, whose name has not been released, identified Deoliveira as the attacker. He told investigators he was awakened by Granados’s screams and saw Deoliveira allegedly striking him. Though he didn’t witness the exact point of impact, he reported hearing a noise “like splitting wood” and later saw what appeared to be one or two of Granados’s fingers partially severed. He also noted a visible wound on Granados’s skull.
The witness described Deoliveira as someone who was homeless and known to stay in the garage or nearby homes. He said she appeared disoriented during the incident but became aware of what had happened upon noticing the blood and the sound of a footrest clicking back into place. Deoliveira reportedly fled the scene before police arrived.
Officers later found a trail of blood leading from the garage. Granados confirmed he had been attacked without warning.
Deoliveira was arrested without incident on Sept. 7 in nearby Moorhead, Minnesota. She is being held on $500,000 bond and is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. According to the Fargo Police Department, she appeared to be smiling in her booking photo.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Cass County District Court.