Authorities announced the arrest of the daughter of Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, who is accused of stabbing her dad, the lead prosecutor in Oklahoma's second biggest county.
Tulsa Police Captain Richard Meulenberg said that Jennifer Kunzweiler remained in the hospital under police guard on Wednesday, a day after she was arrested for the stabbing. When the 30-year-old is released, she will be booked on a single count of domestic violence with the use of a dangerous weapon, according to News on 6.
Steve Kunzweiler told reporters on Wednesday that his family endured one of the toughest days in their lives, adding that fortunately, his daughter is alive, and he is alive. The Tulsa County DA said that he was doing fine, although he admitted being sore as he got some staples on his body.
Kunzweiler fights back tears as he recalls mental health crisis
Kunzweiler, who was standing by his wife and younger daughter, appeared to fight back the tears as he recounted the horrific attack, according to NBC News. He said before a long pause that mental illness is a terrible thing, and many families like theirs have endured years of anxious-ridden concern for their affected loved ones. He added that no one wants to be mentally ill.
Meulenberg stated that police were called to the home of Kunzweiler about 2 p.m. on Tuesday about a disturbance and an assault related to his daughter. Meulenberg added that Kunzweiler and his daughter were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries after the woman's mental health crisis.
Meulenberg said that Kunzweiler and his daughter got into an altercation of sorts where she had stabbed him. The injury stemmed from the daughter having a potential mental health crisis, which led to the assault on her dad.
Meulenberg said firefighters had to wrestle with Kunzweiler's daughter to get her under control. He added that the police department's family violence unit and crime unit are investigating this case like any other.
Attack started with an act of self-harm
Police said the attack started with an act of self-harm. Meulenberg noted that she had cut herself first before going on and attacking the DA. Steve Kunzweiler, who was first elected back in November 2014, said that he appreciated the fast work of first responders. He also thanked firefighters who came to their rescue, saying they did what they had to do to intervene.
Kunzweiler decried the exploding mental health crisis facing the United States. He urged the state of Oklahoma to devote more funds to fighting this complex challenge, according to Tulsa World.
Officials said that Wagoner County District Attorney Jack Thorp had been assigned to the case because of the conflict of interest created by members of the Kunzweiler family being both suspect and victim in the stabbing incident.
