A Missouri woman was found with approximately 30 stab wounds at her St. Louis County apartment after neighbors heard her screaming from a balcony that she was going to die, authorities said. Her husband, Munyaradzi Chiturumani, allegedly attacked her and fled the scene with their 6-year-old daughter.
Background
According to a probable cause statement obtained by KMOV, neighbors called 911 on Wednesday at approximately 5 p.m. after hearing the victim yelling from her balcony that she was going to die. Officers responded to the residence on Shadycreek Court in St. Louis County and discovered the woman with severe injuries.
The victim was transported to a hospital, where she told investigators that her husband had stabbed her and threatened to kill their 6-year-old child next before leaving the apartment with the girl, the court document states.
Police later seized two bloody knives from the residence during their investigation. The woman was listed in stable condition following treatment for her wounds.
The Investigation
Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an AMBER Alert as investigators spent hours searching for Chiturumani and the missing child. Authorities confirmed they had been called to the apartment complex on prior occasions, though details of those previous incidents were not specified in the probable cause statement.
The 6-year-old girl was ultimately found safe in the city of St. Louis. Police said she was in relatively good condition and was being cared for by medical personnel after her rescue.
"We are ecstatic that we've been able to locate her," the St. Louis County Police Department stated following the child's recovery.
Chiturumani, 36, was located approximately 12 miles east of St. Louis County in Caseyville, Illinois, where he was arrested without incident. He has been charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk.
He is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond. It remains unclear whether he has retained legal counsel who could respond to the allegations on his behalf.
Key Takeaways
- The victim sustained approximately 30 stab wounds and told investigators her husband was the attacker
- Chiturumani allegedly threatened to kill their 6-year-old daughter before fleeing with the child
- Officers seized two bloody knives from the Shadycreek Court residence
- Police had previously responded to calls at the same apartment complex
- The suspect was apprehended in Caseyville, Illinois, roughly 12 miles east of St. Louis County
- Chiturumani faces charges including first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action
What's Next
Chiturumani remains incarcerated on his $500,000 cash-only bond as he awaits further court proceedings. No upcoming court dates have been set in the case. The investigation into the attack remains active, and prosecutors could add additional charges as the case progresses through the St. Louis County judicial system.