A quiet Thanksgiving in Mesa, Arizona, turned into a bloody crime scene after a woman allegedly called 911 to report she had just slashed her boyfriend’s throat, describing the attack as her personal “Independence Day.”
Tamala Rudeseal, 52, is facing attempted murder charges following the incident, which occurred just after 8 p.m. Court documents state Rudeseal told dispatchers, “I did just try to murder you,” directly referencing the victim.
When officers arrived at the apartment complex near Broadway Road and Country Club Drive, they found Rudeseal’s boyfriend of 11 years with a deep laceration stretching from his left ear to the center of his throat. The victim, whose name has not been released, told investigators he was asleep when he suddenly woke to sharp pain. He managed to stop the bleeding using a shirt until first responders arrived and rushed him into emergency surgery. Police noted that the couple had argued earlier in the day and that Rudeseal frequently struggled with depression around the holidays.
Officers also recovered a large folding hunting knife near where Rudeseal was taken into custody.
During interviews with detectives, Rudeseal reportedly made no attempt to hide her intent. When asked if she had tried to kill the man, she allegedly replied, “Yes. God, I hope he is dead; it’d be a favor to me, his wife, and his children.” Court documents further allege she described a gruesome plan to continue the attack, intending to slice the other side of his neck and stab him in the heart.
Rudeseal was booked into Maricopa County Jail on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault. A judge set her bond at $1 million.