North Carolina Man Stabs Estranged Wife Over 15 Times, Throws Her Off Balcony

A man in North Carolina was charged with attempted murder after he stabbed his estranged wife several times before throwing her off the balcony.

On Wednesday night, Mathew Stallings of New Hanover County broke into his estranged wife’s apartment at the New Providence Park Apartment Homes while she was asleep. Stallings then woke her up and stabbed her 15 times before throwing her off the second-floor balcony.

The woman, identified as Elaine Kinn, dropped approximately 14 feet before hitting the ground.

Kinn suffered life-threatening injuries as five of the stab wounds were to her neck. She was rushed to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Kinn is currently reported to be in stable condition, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said, NBC-affiliated television station WECT reported.

"This is one of the most horrendous domestic violence cases in my 40 years," Kinn’s attorney said during the accused's hearing, WWAY TV reported.

A child was also there in the apartment at the time of the incident. The victim’s attorney said Kinn would be getting a restraining order against Stallings.

The exact motive behind the attack is still unknown, and it is being investigated as a domestic incident. The investigating officers have retrieved the weapon used for the attack and identified it as a foldable knife.

Stallings, who had recently relocated to Duplin County, was arrested from the area with the help of officers from the Duplin County Sheriff's Office.

The 29-year-old is being held at the New Hanover County jail on a $5 million bond. He is charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault of a female, communicating threats, first-degree burglary, and assault with a deadly weapon.

During his hearing, the judge said if Stallings were to make bond, he would be on house arrest, with the only exception being going to work, and would be required to be under electronic monitoring. The judge added that under no circumstances would Stallings be allowed to contact the victim or the child.

His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28. If Stallings is found guilty, he would be sentenced to life in prison without parole.