Jessica Eustache allegedly tried to kill her boyfriend in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, stabbing him repeatedly after he told her to leave his life for good — and then insisted to police she had only "poked" him with the weapon.
Background
The attack occurred on July 9 at the victim's home. According to a criminal complaint obtained by WCAU, Eustache, 34, had been living with her boyfriend when he decided to end their eight-year relationship and tried to kick her out. The confrontation quickly turned violent.
The victim told Upper Darby Police that during an argument, he attempted to remove Eustache from his residence. "I told her to get the f— out of my life," the man explained to officers. "She's running around with a knife. I told her to get the f— out of here, and she started stabbing me."
When police arrived at the scene, they found the victim inside the home using a rag in an attempt to stanch bleeding from wounds to his chest and abdomen. Eustache was reportedly screaming outside the residence.
The Investigation
Officers dispatched to the boyfriend's home on July 9 found the victim with stab wounds to both his chest and abdomen. According to the criminal complaint, the man told police he tried to take the knife away from Eustache when she began stabbing him during their fight.
Eustache provided investigators with a different account of events. She allegedly claimed to officers that while arguing with the man, she was holding a serrated silver knife but insisted she only "poked" him with it.
Upper Darby Police Department Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt expressed skepticism about Eustache's characterization of the attack during comments to WCAU. "The mere fact that she gave her self-serving statement that it was a 'poke' doesn't erase the fact that she could have killed this male," Bernhardt said. "There's no misunderstanding. It's no mistake. This was a violent domestic attack."
Bernhardt also noted concerning patterns in the relationship prior to the July 9 incident. "There had been multiple incidents with the two of them in the past where if one or the other would have left, maybe we would not be here today talking about this," he told WCAU. "It didn't have to occur."
The Charges
Online court records show Eustache was arrested and charged with attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of an instrument of crime.
According to the complaint, Eustache has a criminal history that includes prior arrests for aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and harassment. She is being held on $1 million bail following her arrest in connection with the July 9 attack.
Key Takeaways
- Jessica Eustache, 34, allegedly stabbed her boyfriend multiple times after an eight-year relationship ended
- The victim told police he was trying to kick Eustache out of his home when she attacked him
- Officers found the man with stab wounds to his chest and abdomen; he attempted to stop the bleeding before help arrived
- Eustache claimed to investigators that she only "poked" him with a serrated knife during their argument
- She faces charges including attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault, held on $1 million bail
What's Next
Eustache is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 23. The case remains under investigation by the Upper Darby Police Department as prosecutors continue to build their evidence against the defendant.