| By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
A Union City woman who was the victim of a brutal stabbing earlier this month is improving at a Memphis hospital.
Christina Jimerson, 27, is now in a regular patient room as she continues to recover at Regional Medical Center (The Med), according to a family mem-ber.
Ms. Jimerson sustained multiple stab wounds during an attack Oct. 11 at her home at 611 North Division St. in Union City. She was airlifted to the Memphis hospital, where she underwent several hours of surgery and was initially in critical condition.
Ms. Jimerson’s step-mother, Martha Jimerson of Clinton, Ky., told The Messenger today that her stepdaughter is improving but still has considerable recovery ahead. She said Ms. Jimerson has already undergone one eye surgery and possibly faces more surgery in the future, explaining she lost one eye and half a finger in an attack in which she was stabbed some 60 times.
“She still has a long ways to go,” Mrs. Jimerson said, adding her stepdaughter is now able to move about with the use of a walker. “She’s out of danger. She is getting better and stronger everyday.”
She said someone is staying with her step-daughter constantly during her recovery and she is “terrified” at the thought of being alone in the aftermath of the attack.
Police have warrants on file for attempted first-degree murder and felony motor vehicle theft for a suspect in the attack, 25-year-old Willie James Walker III of Greenfield, who remains in the Weakley County Detention Center awaiting a court appearance Wednesday on unrelated charges there.
Police had responded to Ms. Jimerson’s North Division Street home about 8:45 p.m. Oct. 11 in response to a 911 call from a neighbor who heard screaming coming from the residence. Union City police investigator Susan Andrews said the seriously injured Ms. Jimerson was able to bang on a window, which broke, in order to be heard by a neighbor.
When Union City police officers arrived, they could hear a woman screaming that she had been stabbed. Officers forced their way into the home, where they found Ms. Jimerson bleeding from apparent stab wounds, acting Union City Police Chief Perry Barfield said.
Police said neighbors had witnessed an unidentified black man run from the apartment before officers arrived. They reportedly saw the man get into Ms. Jimerson’s silver 1997 Toyota and leave the scene. Police alerted surrounding law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the vehicle, which was recovered early Oct. 12 in Greenfield.
Mrs. Andrews said Greenfield and Martin police departments and 911 were very helpful in the investigation, which resulted in Walker being identified as a suspect. Greenfield police located Walker the day after the stabbing after discovering there were warrants against him in Weakley County for unrelated charges of domestic violence and failure to appear, and Union City police now have a hold on him for the two charges here.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by email at cmenees@ucmessenger.com. Published in The Messenger 10.23.12 |
