What started as a domestic dispute in a Pinellas Park home ended with a double stabbing Monday afternoon, leaving a young couple hospitalized and a 54-year-old mother behind bars. Police say Sandra Kegley, 54, stabbed her daughter’s boyfriend, 23-year-old Eric Smith, and injured her daughter, 25-year-old Kyrsten Bleattler, inside a residence in the 6200 block of 108th Avenue North. The attack was reported around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23. Both victims were taken to a hospital with cuts and stab wounds that authorities described as not life-threatening, and Kegley was detained at the scene and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
What police say
Investigators told the Tampa Free Press that Kegley attacked Smith with a weapon inside the home. Bleattler was hurt when she stepped in to try to stop the assault, according to police. Officers arrived to find all three at the residence and confirmed that both Smith and Bleattler had various stab wounds and cuts. Paramedics took the pair to a nearby hospital for treatment, and authorities said their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Arrest and charges
Pinellas Park police arrested Kegley at the scene and booked her into the Pinellas County Jail, authorities told FOX 13 Tampa Bay. She faces two felony counts: attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Detectives have not publicly identified a motive and say the case remains an active investigation.
Victims and community
Police and responding medics said Smith and Bleattler were taken to a local hospital and that their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, according to the Tampa Free Press. Officials have not released additional information about the victims’ conditions or the family. Beyond the brief incident summary, the department has not issued a more detailed public statement.
What’s next
Detectives are continuing to gather evidence and take witness statements as they prepare the case for review by the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office, the department told FOX 13 Tampa Bay. The Pinellas Park Police Department’s Public Information Unit lists phone numbers on its official site for both media inquiries and residents who may have tips. At the time of reporting, authorities had not released information on Kegley’s court date or bond.
