Mom of stabbing victim says daughter tried fighting off attacker

A woman who survived a man’s alleged stabbing spree said she didn’t know the attacker who violently car-jacked her early Monday.

Wayne Thomas Mitchell allegedly stabbed Bernadette Rivera multiple times when he tried to steal her car. She’s in stable condition at University Medical Center.

Rivera’s mother, Irma Hernandez, told ABC-7 her daughter was in her car alone when Mitchell got in. He was allegedly fleeing the scene of a fatal stabbing earlier that night.

El Paso Police said Mitchell stabbed one man to death and left another woman with serious injuries.

Hernandez said Mitchell got into her daughter’s car and tried to get her to leave.

When Rivera refused, Mitchell allegedly stabbed her in the torso and head. She fought back and eventually escaped.

“I was in shock because I just lost my son three years ago,” Hernandez said. “I’m not going to let them go, you know.”

Mitchell drove off with Rivera’s car, but he was later arrested Monday afternoon and has been charged with murder.