Long Branch man charged in stabbing
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH - A 72-year-old Long Branch woman was released from Monmouth Medical Center after being stabbed twice in her Fourth Ave. home.

The victim was stabbed on Nov. 6 by the father of her granddaughter's children and was treated at the hospital for five days before being released on Nov. 10, according to Long Branch Police Sgt. Fernando Sanders.

Long Branch resident William Johnson, 47, is facing attempted homicide charges for allegedly stabbing the victim in the face and torso with a kitchen knife, according to police reports.

Police responded to the duplex home at approximately 5:30 p.m., where the 72-year-old victim lives with her 24-year-old granddaughter and her granddaughter's two young children, ages 7 and 5.

Upon arrival, Police Officers Todd Coleman and Patrick Joyce located an elderly female with stab wounds, police said.

Long Branch Detective Edwin Hennelly was the lead investigator in the case.

The officers found Johnson located inside the home, according to reports.

After speaking with the granddaughter, police learned that Johnson is the father of the two young children and came to the residence to speak with the grandmother, according to reports.

The 24-year-old told police that Johnson blamed her grandmother for losing visitation rights with his children, according to reports.

After further investigating the crime, police learned that Johnson entered the residence through an unlocked back door and once inside the home began to trash the kitchen area, according to reports.

Johnson then began going through the kitchen drawer where the knives are kept, and the 24-year-old and her two children ran out of the house, according to police.

The grandmother attempted to flee the residence and once on the porch of the home, Johnson allegedly stabbed her twice, according to police reports.

Johnson sustained a laceration to the palm of his right hand, and after being arrested, he was transported to Monmouth Medical Center for treatment.

The 24-year-old and her two children were unharmed, according to police.

In addition to attempted homicide, Johnson is also being charged with possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, burglary, endangering the welfare of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering with evidence, and criminal mischief.

A restraining order was granted against Johnson and his bail was set at $335,000 with no 10 percent option, according to police.

After receiving treatment at the hospital, Johnson was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township.