Struthers man in jail, is accused of stabbing his live-in girlfriend

STRUTHERS -- Rodney L. Smallwood, 39, of Hawthorne Street, was in the Mahoning County Jail on $600,000 bond this morning pending a hearing July 2.
Smallwood is charged with the attempted murder and felonious assault of his live-in girlfriend, Coni J. Malovec. According to police, Smallwood stabbed Malovec 10 times in her chest and back during the wee hours of June 19.
Police reports show that Smallwood initially told police that an intruder had stabbed Malovec after breaking into their home and that he had been in Austintown when the attack occurred and hurried home after Malovec called and told him she had been stabbed.
Later, detectives said, Smallwood admitted stabbing his girlfriend.
Police found a knife believed to have been used in the attack under a living room chair.
Malovec was initially listed in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center but was upgraded and released Tuesday.