Woman Stabbed in the Chest Because She 'Talked Back'

Hanging out with her on-and-off boyfriend turned dangerous over the Labor Day weekend for a Racine woman. She was stabbed in the chest early Saturday morning and the intervention of family and friends may have saved her life.

According to the criminal complaint from the Racine County District Attorney's office, Kevon Kuma, 35, of Racine, is charged with first degree attempted homicide and aggravated battery for punching the woman in the face and stabbing her in the left side of her chest. If convicted of both counts, he faces up to 71 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines.

After first lying to officers at the hospital about what happened to her because she feared for her life, the woman told police she was out with friends Friday night when Kuma arrived at the same bar. They stayed there until close then went to a friend's house before ending up back at the victim's house in the 4100 block of Maryland Avenue.

According to police reports, the woman said she and Kuma were having a drink, talking and listening to music when she told him to shut up and he punched her in the face. To get away from Kuma, the woman said she went into her bedroom and told him to leave.

Kuma instead came into the bedroom holding two butcher knives from the kitchen, one of which he threw on the floor. The woman said she was crying while Kuma yelled at her to shut up and he was allegedly using the second knife to repeatedly poke the victim's arm. When she stood up, he stabbed her in the left side.

The woman told police that Kuma helped her apply pressure to the wound even as he told her the attack was her fault because she "talked back." He refused to allow her to call for help because he knew he would go to jail. Kuma reportedly stayed with the woman throughout most of the day until members of the woman's family took Kuma home and a friend took her to the hospital for treatment.

Officers reported that the woman said she's had a rocky relationship with Kuma for the last five years and he's been abusive to her before, burning and choking her. She also said they have a child together.

Kuma is being held in the Racine County Jail on a $75,000 cash bond. He will next be in court for a preliminary hearing for this case on Sept. 12. Kuma is due in court on Sept. 24 for a plea hearing for a February hit-and-run case against him. He also has a previous conviction in 2000 for homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and operating while intoxicated.