An 18-year-old girl miraculously survived being stabbed over a dozen times by an “obsessive” ex-coworker on her Oklahoma doorstep and was likely saved from further carnage by her brother’s heroic actions, according to authorities and reports.
Ronaldo Zavala, 24, allegedly approached the unidentified teen as she was about to enter her home in rural Earlsboro around 1:10 a.m. Saturday, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Zavala then stabbed her a whopping 14 times in the neck and wrist, police said.
A man, identified by local outlets as the girl’s brother, fought off the knife-wielding attacker and was stabbed in the process, according to cops.
The mother of the two kids woke up to the sounds of screams and immediately called 911.
“Someone with a ski mask came up to my daughter on the porch. She was eating a burger, and what did he do? He started stabbing her, and he said he was so sorry,” the teen’s mother said in a panicked 911 call obtained by WHSV.
“He said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,’ and he started stabbing her,” she told the dispatcher.
Zavala allegedly fled from the scene before deputies arrived, cops said.
The teen girl is currently in critical but stable condition, according to authorities.
Her courageous brother sustained minor injuries from the knifing and is being credited for stepping in to save his sister’s life, the local outlet reported.
“He saved his sister’s life,” Capt. Jared Strand of the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office told the publication.
Zavala was swiftly identified as a suspect, and a search warrant was executed at his home, revealing evidence directly linking him to the brutal attack, police said.
He was then arrested and charged with aggravated assault and battery, and assault and battery while masked or disguised, cops said.
More charges are expected to be filed as the investigation continues.
The 18-year-old victim and Zavala previously worked together at a local movie theater, where his alleged stalking began, authorities said.
“He was just obsessed with this female. She had no interest whatsoever, and it just drove him to the brink of committing this crime,” Strand said.
“He went as far as sending unsolicited DoorDash orders, different gifts that were not wanted,” he recalled.
The 18-year-old had made a complaint about Zavala, and he was fired from his job, News9 reported.
Police urged anyone to immediately report if they are being stalked, even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal or hasn’t escalated to the point of violence.
“Anything like this, please report it to us immediately. Even though it may appear not to be a big deal and it’s someone who may have a crush on you or whatever it is, call us so we can take an information report so we have all this information documented,” Strand said, per WHSV.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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