Defendant’s attorney requests evaluation

Crystal Goodrich’s family said her grandmother’s progress is ‘coming along.’

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Crystal Goodrich of Leavittsburg, accused in a stabbing attack on her grandmother, will undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the request of her attorney.

Goodrich, 29, of Leavittsburg was before Judge Peter J. Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Monday. Goodrich was arrested June 22 after Newton Falls Police said she held her 81-year-old grandmother, Ruth V. Jenkins, at knifepoint for about six hours then stabbed her twice in the chest and once in the arm inside Jenkins’ Newton Falls apartment.

Atty. James Lewis stood in for Atty. Roger Bauer, who represents Goodrich. Lewis said Bauer and his client will continue with a motion to evaluate her mental state.

Goodrich, who sat quietly in the courtroom, was indicted July 24 on charges of felonious assault, attempted murder and kidnapping. She could spend up to 28 years in jail if convicted.

Police said Goodrich went to her grandmother’s apartment on Ridge Road at 6:30 a.m. June 22 and held her at knife point until Goodrich’s mother arrived around noon.

She told her mother, Cathy Lane, she was going to kill Jenkins, police said. Lane stepped between the two women and kept Goodrich away from Jenkins until police arrived. Goodrich purportedly stabbed Jenkins when Lane went to unlock the apartment door for police officers.

Goodrich is in Trumbull County Jail with bond set at $1 million and will be in court again Sept. 14, for a status hearing to update the court on the progress of her psychiatric evaluation.

Outside the courtroom, family members declined to comment on Goodrich and the case but said Jenkins is “doing well” and “coming along.”