Woman pleads innocent in stabbing of her grandmother, 81

By Ed Runyan

The defendant has said there is more to the story than what has been reported.

WARREN — Looking not at all like a criminal — thin, mild-mannered and quiet — Crystal Goodrich stood before Judge John M. Stuard on Thursday and pleaded innocent to charges including attempted murder and kidnapping of her 81-year-old grandmother.

Goodrich, 29, of Emert Road, Leavittsburg, a mother of two who lived in a nice one-story home with a boyfriend, her kids and a dog until Monday, faces charges that could land her in prison for up to 28 years.

Police say Goodrich held her grandmother, Ruth V. Jenkins, at knifepoint for about six hours Monday morning in Jenkins’ Newton Falls apartment until her mother, Cathy Lane, arrived — at which point Goodrich told her mother she was going to kill Jenkins.

A Newton Falls police officer arrived based on a 911 call, and while Lane was unlocking the door for him, Goodrich stabbed Jenkins twice in the chest and once in the arm, said Newton Falls Police Chief John Kuivila.

Jenkins is expected to recover.

Chris Becker, an assistant county prosecutor, said there is a possibility Goodrich may be planning to use an insanity defense.

Goodrich has contacted reporters for multiple local news organizations since her Monday arrest, saying there is more to the story than what has been reported so far.

She declined after her hearing Thursday to tell the rest of the story “publicly,” she said.

Family members say her children are now in the care of her ex-husband.

Kuivila has declined to discuss a motive for the attack.

Judge Stuard, of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, set bond at $1 million. Goodrich will return to court Monday for a pretrial hearing.