A shocking case out of Homestead, Florida, has landed a 22-year-old woman behind bars after police say she stabbed a man she had just met online only two days earlier. The alleged attack happened during a heated argument in her home, leaving the victim hospitalized with a stab wound to the back of his neck.
Online Meeting Turns Violent
According to a criminal complaint, Zaryanna Marshall met the victim on social media and invited him to her residence in the 400 block of Southeast 35th Avenue. The two reportedly spent the night together before an argument broke out.
As the man began packing his belongings to leave, Marshall allegedly rifled through his pockets looking for rolling papers used to smoke marijuana. That’s when the victim called her a derogatory term.
“The subject replied, ‘You wanna see retarded?’” police wrote. Marshall then allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed him once in the back of the neck.
Victim Hospitalized After Neck Stabbing
Homestead Police received a 911 call just after 9 p.m. Saturday and found the injured man at the scene. He was rushed to a local hospital for treatment and later told detectives about the encounter from his hospital bed.
Police said the victim easily identified Marshall in a photo lineup the next day. Officers arrested her at her home Sunday.
Marshall’s Self-Defense Claim
Marshall reportedly told investigators she acted in self-defense, claiming the man had punched her in the face before she retaliated with the knife. However, police noted she had no visible injuries and refused to allow officers to photograph her for evidence.
Troubling Criminal History
Court records show Marshall was already on probation and house arrest at the time of the stabbing. She has a criminal record that includes:
Armed robbery (July 2024)
Domestic battery (2023)
Battery (2022)
She now faces an attempted murder charge and is due back in court on September 9.
Community Shock
The case highlights the dangers of quick online connections escalating into violence. Prosecutors say Marshall’s history of violence will likely weigh heavily as the court considers her latest charge. For the victim, who survived a stab wound to the neck, the ordeal could have been far worse.
