A shocking case from Fargo, North Dakota, has left a man severely injured and a young woman facing serious charges after she allegedly attacked her boyfriend with a hatchet while he was sleeping. The brutal nature of the incident has caught widespread attention, with police describing the assault as extremely violent.
Hatchet Attack During the Night
The incident happened on the night of September 5 inside a detached garage in north Fargo, near the 700 block of College Street North. According to police, 23-year-old Lena Deoliveira is accused of swinging a hatchet at her boyfriend, Jonathan Granados, while he was asleep.
Both of them, along with a witness, were reportedly homeless and living together in the garage.
According to witness statements in the charging documents, the witness woke up to the sound of Deoliveira striking something hard. At first, he thought it was the headrest or bedframe, as it sounded like “splitting wood.” But then he saw Deoliveira raise the hatchet again and realized what was happening.
Victim Woke Up Screaming
Granados reportedly woke up screaming in pain during the attack. The witness told police he saw at least two strikes to Granados’ head. When he got closer, he noticed what looked like one or two of the victim’s fingers were either missing or hanging off. He also saw visible marks and blood on Granados’ skull, police said.
The attack left Granados with serious injuries, including:
A deep cut across his skull
Severe wounds to his hands
Potential finger amputation
Suspect Tried to Flee But Was Caught
After the assault, Deoliveira ran from the garage. Police launched an investigation and found her later that Sunday in nearby Moorhead, Minnesota. She was arrested without incident and taken into custody.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Lena Deoliveira now faces the following charges in Cass County:
Attempted murder
Aggravated assault
She is currently being held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on October 16 for her next hearing.
Possible Motive Unknown
As of now, investigators have not publicly shared what led to the violent attack. The relationship between Deoliveira and Granados was described as romantic, but no further details on their history have been revealed. The case is still under investigation, and more information may be released during the court proceedings.
This disturbing case out of North Dakota highlights the dangers of untreated mental health issues and domestic violence, especially in vulnerable situations like homelessness.
As Jonathan Granados recovers from serious injuries, Lena Deoliveira now faces life-changing legal consequences. The community and authorities are left asking how such a brutal act could take place without warning.
