VANCOUVER, Wash. – A 59-year-old grandmother of 23 was stabbed to death by a neighbor in the hallway outside her apartment, police said.
Hazel Stephens had just put dinner in the oven before the stabbing Friday night. Her husband of 19 years, Jeff Stephens, was playing video games with their grandson, Jason.
There was a knock at the apartment’s door. Hazel answered, and Jeff could hear the neighbor ask her to come into the hall.
“Hon, I’m going outside to take a look at something,” Hazel called out as she left.
The next thing Jeff heard was a shriek – a “scream from hell,” he told The Columbian newspaper of Vancouver. He bolted into the hall to find his wife stabbed in the chest, blood pouring through her blouse, and another neighbor being beaten by the suspect, Shane B. Cole, 29.
Jeff Stephens, 50, said he tried to distract Cole, who punched him several times before running off. He then called 911 and tried to stop his wife’s bleeding with towels.
“Just hang in there with me,” he told her.
Aid workers tried to save her, but couldn’t. A police officer broke the bad news and asked Stephens to be strong for his grandson.
A police dog tracked Cole to Esther Short Park, where he was arrested for investigation of first-degree murder. Eight-year-old Jason was quick to identify him, Stephens said: “That’s the guy, that’s the one who hurt my nana,” the boy blurted.
The motive for the stabbing was unclear. Stephens said his wife and Cole had never argued. In fact, the couple helped Cole get his heat working this fall.
Cole remained in the Clark County Jail without bail Sunday. He is believed to be the same man who charged at a Vancouver police officer with a knife in May 2000, saying “I’m going to kill you or you’re going to kill me.” The officer subdued him with pepper spray.
According to court records, Cole has a criminal history that includes assault and domestic violence. It was not immediately clear whether he had obtained a lawyer.
Hazel Stephens had three daughters, two stepdaughters, 23 grandchildren and two foster grandchildren, her husband said.
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