A Grovetown woman is facing charges for stabbing a Child Protective Services worker, authorities said.
Joan Francis John, 33, was arrested Dec. 5 for second-degree cruelty to children and two counts of aggravated assault.
The incident took place last Wednesday when John’s mother called CPS. The mother explained that she has custody of her 6-year-old grandson, John’s son, who is autistic. The suspect lost custody of her son, according to reports, and is unstable and often abusive toward her mother and son.
The mother contacted CPS looking to have John evicted because she didn’t feel safe having her live in the house. The CPS worker showed up to arrange for a supervised visitation order and drew up paperwork for the mother and John on scene.
When the CPS worker handed the document to John to sign, the suspect stood there with a blank look before pulling out two knives and stabbing the CPS worker multiple times.
The mother pulled John off the CPS worker and grabbed one of the knives from her. The CPS worker ran from the home to seek help.
John briefly went into her son’s room then came back out and said “I don’t know why I did that. I’m leaving.”
John left the apartment as the mother held onto the child. When deputies arrived, they found the CPS worker covered in blood and holding her face. She was evaluated on scene then taken to Doctor’s Hospital for treatment.
Deputies noted the child had blood on his shirt but was not injured. They also found blood on the couch and floor inside the home. The mother had minor cuts to her hands and blood on her shirt.
Deputies later found John hiding in the nearby woods and arrested her.
