CHICO, California— A Chico man was in court Monday Stabbing and attempted murder of his mother..

Justin Matthew Stephens, 46, of Chico, was indicted on felony charges of attempted murder, elder abuse, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest, according to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.

On Oct. 31, Chico police received a report of a woman crying and her adult son yelling at her. The caller said he saw the son kicking near the victim. When police arrived, Ramsey said they found Stephens standing near his 75-year-old mother, who was lying in a pool of blood.

Police said Stephens was initially uncooperative but was eventually taken into custody. A Chico police officer was injured during the arrest, CPD said they suffered minor throat injuries. Ramsey said this was because Stephens had grabbed the officer by the neck during the arrest.

The female victim was found to have multiple stab wounds to the head and neck. She was treated at a hospital and then transported to an undisclosed medical facility for more advanced treatment. Ramsey said doctors discovered eight different lacerations and puncture wounds on his head and neck. One of the neck wounds severed the mother’s artery.

Ramsey said the mother is now in a hospital outside the area as she recovers from her injuries and remains in critical condition.

According to Ramsey, the motive for the attack remains unknown. He explained that the agents discovered a “punch,” with what appeared to be blood, sheathed in the defendant’s waist. “The knife, sometimes called a ‘push dagger,’ is a short-bladed dagger with a ‘T’-shaped handle that is designed to be held in a closed fist. Officers noticed a trail of blood leading from the path of entrance, toward the front door and toward the kitchen of the residence Stephens shared with his mother,” Ramsey said.

Stephens had been charged in the past with elder abuse after pushing his mother to the ground at the same residence in August 2023, Ramsey said. “During the course of that case, a court-appointed psychologist determined that Stephens was incompetent to stand trial due to mental issues, and his criminal case was suspended pending mental health treatment.”

After spending several months receiving treatment in the Butte County Jail, a judge ruled that Stephens had regained competency and reinstated his criminal case. Stephens’ mother then requested that the judge release him on his own recognizance in February 2024. Ramsey said the judge released Stephens over the prosecutor’s objection.

“The abuse case continued several times as his then-attorney attempted to have his case diverted from the criminal courts for a “mental health diversion.” However, a new defense attorney took over the case in August of this year and said It appeared to the judge that Stephens was again suffering from mental problems that made him incompetent to stand trial. Stephens was due to appear in court for further proceedings on his competency issue on the morning of August 31, the same day he failed to do so. . appear in court that day,” Ramsey said.

Stephens is being held without bail, Ramsey said he will return to court on Nov. 7, 2024 for his new arraignment and plea in his new case.