Chico man has to appear in court for allegedly stabbing his mother, leaving her in critical condition

CHICO, California – A Chico man was in court Monday stabbing and attempted murder of his mother.

Justin Matthew Stephens, 46, of Chico, was indicted on charges of attempted murder, elder abuse, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest, Butte County Attorney Mike Ramsey said.

On October 31, Chico police received a report of a woman crying and her adult son yelling at her. The caller said they witnessed the son kicking near the victim. When police arrived, Ramsey said they found Stephens next to his 75-year-old mother, lying in a pool of blood.

Police said Stephens was initially uncooperative but was eventually taken into custody. One Chico police officer was injured during the arrest. CPD said they suffered minor injuries to their throats. Ramsey said this was because Stephens grabbed the officer by the throat during the arrest.

The female victim appeared to have multiple stab wounds to the head and neck. She was treated at a hospital and then transported to an undisclosed medical facility for more advanced treatment. Ramsey said doctors discovered eight different cuts and stab wounds on her head and neck. One of the neck wounds severed the mother’s artery.

Ramsey said the mother is now in an out-of-area hospital as she recovers from her injuries. She is still in critical condition.

The reason for the attack remains unknown, according to Ramsey. He explained that officers discovered a “punch knife,” with what appeared to be blood, applied to the defendant’s waistband. “The knife, also called a ‘push dagger’, is a dagger with a short blade and a ‘T’-shaped handle designed to be held in a closed fist. Officers noticed a trail of blood leading from the driveway, into the front door and into the kitchen of the home Stephens shared with his mother,” Ramsey said.

Stephens was charged in the past with elder abuse after he pushed his mother to the ground in the same home in August 2023, Ramsey said. “During the course of that case, a court-appointed psychologist found that Stephens was incompetent to stand trial due to mental health issues, and his criminal case was stayed pending mental health treatment.”

After undergoing treatment at the Butte County Jail for several months, a judge ruled that Stephens had regained his competency and reinstated his criminal case. Stephens’ mother subsequently requested a judge’s release on his own recognizance in February 2024. Ramsey said the judge released Stephens over the prosecutor’s objection.

“The abuse case was then continued several times as his then-attorney attempted to have his case thrown out of the criminal courts due to a “mental health diversion.” However, a new lawyer took over the case in August this year and told Judge Stephens appeared to be once again suffering from mental problems that left him unfit to stand trial. Stephens was scheduled to appear in court on the morning of August 31 for further proceedings on his competency issue, the same day as the new alleged assault appeared in court that day,” Ramsey said.

Stephens is being held without bail. Ramsey said he will return to court on November 7, 2024 for his further arraignment and plea for his new case.