Bel Ridge, MO (KTVI-FOX2Now.com)—
A Bel Ridge mother is behind bars after allegedly stabbing her daughter nearly 20 times. The 15 year old girl is in state custody. The mother is identified as 30 year old Markeshia Boykin; the 15 year old is Shamell Boykin. Barbara Boykin, Shamell's grandmother and Markeshia's mother, struggled to hold tears as she talked with us on Friday."My whole life has just been turned upside down I cant believe this has happened," said Barbara.
Investigators say Markeshia Boykin stabbed her 15 year old daughter, Shamell Boykin, 19 times in the early morning hours of March 4th. The attack happened at a home on Hammond in Bel Ridge where Markeshia and Shamell lived. Police say Shamell was sleeping when her mother came in and started attacking her.
"The daughter woke up with mother setting over the top of her with mom stabbing her in her chest and her neck," said detective Steve Abbington with the Bel Ridge Police Department.
Investigators say Markeshia Boykin also tried to put a pillow over her daughters head. Shamell was eventually able to fight her mother off. Markeshia's ten year old son, who was also home at the time, called 911. Shamell was rushed to Children's Hospital.
"She's a beautiful child, she's sweet as she can be. She just wanted to be a teenager, that all she want," explained Barbara.
Investigators say Shamell and her mother had been fighting and that Shamell had actually run away for several days prior to the stabbing. Barbara acknowledges there have been problems between the two for some time. She's hoping for the best for her granddaughter.
"I'm thankful she is alive. Thank you God. That was the best news I could have gotten," said a tearful Barbara.
Police say Shamell was in critical condition at one point. But Friday night, investigators told us she was out of the hospital and was in state custody along with her ten year old brother.
Markeshia Boykin is charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. Police say she has confessed to the stabbing.
