An Alabama mental patient from a Mountain Brook psychiatric ward is facing attempted murder charges after she escaped the facility without authorization and attacked a cop with a bayonet.
According to the Huffington Post , 47-year-old Vanessa Hirschowitz was arrested after hiding in the home of an elderly woman who had seemingly been a victim of domestic abuse. Hours after Vanessa Hirschowitz had escaped on Tuesday morning (September 8), an 85-year-old woman was spotted strolling down the street wearing pajamas and a single shoe.
A patrol officer drove the woman to her house and began searching for the family member who might have abused her. At that point, Vanessa Hirschowitz popped out from under a blanket and began swinging an 18-inch bayonet at the face and neck of the officer, according to AL.com . The cop was able to block his head but received a severe cut to the arm. Vanessa Hirschowitz wrestled with the officer but was eventually brought into custody.
The patrol officer was hospitalized as a result of the bayonet attack and required stitches, but he is expected to fully recover.
“It could have been a lot worse,” said Police Chief Ted Cook. “We were lucky all the way around.”
It is now clear that Vanessa Hirschowitz was the daughter of the elderly woman. She has been charged with both attempted murder and third-degree domestic violence.
Greg Yaghmai, her attorney, made it clear that Vanessa Hirschowitz didn’t realize the elderly woman was her mother when she arrived at her house and attacked her.
“It is important to understand Vanessa thought her mother was an impostor and didn’t comprehend it was her mother,” he said.
It is unclear how the escaped patient caused harm to her own mother, whether with the same bayonet she used to attack the police officer or some other weapon. Though Vanessa Hirschowitz has a long history of mental illness, she had never attacked her mother before.
Her lawyer also reported that Vanessa Hirschowitz is under lockdown back at the psychiatric facility. Yaghmai was asked by the press if he thought the charges were too severe for Hirschowitz, considering her psychological problems.
“We’ll be exploring all options for a defense,” he replied. “Certainly, her mental health will be a factor… The family is apologetic about this. But it could have been worse. They’re grateful there were no serious injuries — to the officer or Vanessa.”
The Huffington Post reached out to the psychiatric ward for comment on how Vanessa Hirschowitz managed to escape and get her hands on a bayonet, but they refused to disclose any information regarding security measures.
How do you think Vanessa Hirschowitz escaped?
[Vanessa Hirschowitz mugshot credit: MOUNTAIN BROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT]
