STRUTHERS Man faces charge in the stabbing of live-in girlfriend

STRUTHERS -- Rodney Smallwood, 39, of Hawthorne Street, was to be arraigned today in Municipal Court in the stabbing of his live-in girlfriend, Coni Malovec, 39.
Detectives said Smallwood admitted stabbing Malovec, but said she jumped onto the knife in his hand, even after he asked her to stop.
Police reports show Smallwood called 911 at 2:58 a.m. Thursday to request an ambulance for a stabbing victim. He initially told police he quickly drove home from Austintown when Malovec called him and said someone had broken in and stabbed her, police reports show.
When police arrived, Malovec was conscious, and bleeding from the back and chest. She was lying on the front porch where Smallwood had carried her. He told police he found her on the floor in their bedroom, and tried to carry her to his car to take her to the hospital.
Police found a knife under a chair in the living room that they believe to be the weapon, and blood on the carpet by the couple's bed.
They charged Smallwood with felonious assault.
Malovec was in critical condition this morning in St. Elizabeth Health Center.