An Augusta woman was stabbed in the face, neck and abdomen early Sunday as her own daughters watched the bloody assault in their bedroom, authorities said.
William Draper Jr., 46, kicked in the door to his children’s bedroom around 1:45 a.m. Sunday as his girls tried to keep it closed. They were trying to protect their mother at the home on Bermuda Circle West, but it didn’t stop his violent assault. The girls are ages 6, 7 and 12.
Draper was furious that the mother of his children would not take him back, so he stabbed her as their children watched, authorities said. As he ran to get another knife from a master bedroom, the victim ran into the girls’ bedroom and locked the door.
Responding deputies heard yelling when they arrived and had to kick in a back gate to attempt entry. Draper came outside and refused to give his name or tell them what had happened. He was bleeding from his hand, and a trail of blood led inside.
The victim was found inside, covered in blood from multiple stab wounds, which required surgery Sunday morning. She told authorities that she had allowed Draper to stay at her home because of a foot injury, but he got mad that she planned to go out with family and leave him at home. Draper was also upset that she would not work out their differences and reconcile their relationship.
Deputies interviewed the 12-year-old girl, who described running to the kitchen at one point to get knives to protect themselves from daddy.
Draper was arrested and faces five felony charges, including aggravated assault, weapon possession and three counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. He is the same suspect who spent a year and four months in prison for aggravated assault and child cruelty from 2016, an early release since he was sentenced to three years in prison with seven years of probation.
