Knife Attack Results in Conviction for Belmont Woman

Katlyn Danielle Hendricks, 25, of Belmont, N.C., will spend six to nine years in prison following her conviction for assault with a deadly weapon intent to kill inflicting serious injury during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

The Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed the prison term for Hendricks after she entered a guilty plea for the crime.

The defendant will serve her period of incarceration in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.

The assault occurred on the evening of May 4 and early-morning hours of May 5, 2019. At some point during that period, Hendricks used a blade about 18 inches in length to slice the neck of the 30-year-old victim, leaving one laceration of more than 2 inches in length and another of more than 3 inches.

It appears both women were engaged in drug use when they became involved in a disagreement.

Hendricks consented to an interview and confessed to investigators with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. In the interview, Hendricks stated that she gave the victim a knife to defend herself and then told the victim that she was going to kill her before attacking with the 18-inch blade. Hendricks did not give a definitive reason for the attack in her interview or in court.

When the defendant lost consciousness some time later, the victim was able to get away to a nearby home and seek medical attention. Investigators found the victim at the home receiving treatment from medical personnel, and an unconscious Hendricks was found in the front seat of a vehicle a short distance away by Catawba County deputies.

Hendricks was on probation for drug offenses in Cleveland County at the time of the assault.

Taylor Stout led the investigation for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Sean Baetjer prosecuted the case for the State.

CONTACT: Nathan Key
Phone: 828-695-6193
Email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org