Woman charged with stabbing grandmother; bond set at $1M

By Ed Runyan

The stabbing occurred while a third woman tried to open the door for a police officer.

NEWTON FALLS — A 29-year-old Leavittsburg woman is being held on $1 million bond in the Trumbull County jail.

Crystal Goodrich of Emert Road is accused of taking Ruth V. Jenkins, her 81-year-old grandmother, hostage and stabbing her three times Monday afternoon.

Goodrich was in Newton Falls Municipal Court on Tuesday on charges of attempted aggravated murder and kidnapping.

Newton Falls Police Chief John Kuivila said he could not discuss a possible motive for the attack, which occurred at the grandmother’s apartment on Ridge Road.

Goodrich arrived at her grandmother’s home about 6:30 a.m. Monday and held her grandmother hostage at knifepoint until around noon, when Goodrich’s mother arrived, Kuivila said.

At that point, Goodrich told her mother she “knew she would come” and “wanted her to see her kill her grandma,” Kuivila said.

Goodrich’s mother, Cathy Lane of Braceville, got in between Good-rich and Jenkins and tried to call 911, but Goodrich prevented her from making the call, Kuivila said.

Neighbors heard Lane crying out for help and called 911, Kuivila said.

When an officer from the Newton Falls Police Department arrived, he found the door locked.

When Lane went to unlock it, Goodrich stabbed her grandmother twice in the chest and once in the arm before the officer was able to pull Goodrich off of the woman, Kuivila said.

Jenkins was taken to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital, where she was being treated in the emergency room Monday afternoon. The hospital had no information on her Tuesday, but Kuivila said it appears she will survive.

Kuivila said Goodrich has no felony police record.

Judge Phil Vigorito set bond at $1 million. No plea was accepted by the court. If convicted of the charges, Goodrich could get up to 18 years in prison. She returns to court for a preliminary hearing at 10:45 a.m. June 30.