Danville, Illinois — A former Wendy’s employee has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after repeatedly stabbing a co-worker in the face and head, prosecutors said, bringing a criminal case stemming from a violent workplace attack to a close.
Tichina Marshall, 29, pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder after prosecutors said she attacked her co-worker at the now-closed Danville restaurant in May of last year.
According to prosecutors, Marshall had previously threatened to kill the same co-worker about a month before the stabbing. No motive for the hostility was provided.
Attack Happened While Co-Worker Was Talking to Manager
The attack occurred while Marshall’s co-worker was speaking with their manager, prosecutors said. Surveillance video captured Marshall approaching the victim and repeatedly attacking her with a knife.
The Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office said the video showed Marshall stabbing her co-worker at least twice in the face and once on the top of the head. During the attack, Marshall reportedly told the victim:
“I am going to kill you.”
The assault left the victim seriously injured and fighting to remain conscious. Prosecutors said the woman was found “laying on the floor, bleeding uncontrollably and nearly unconscious.”
She had suffered a one-inch stab wound to the head and a fractured skull, according to prosecutors. The severity of the injuries led authorities to pursue an attempted murder case against Marshall.
Marshall Initially Faced Up to 30 Years
Marshall was initially charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery and faced as much as 30 years in prison if convicted, according to WCIA.
The case ultimately ended with a plea agreement.
As part of the deal, the aggravated battery charge was dropped, while Marshall pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder. The guilty plea avoided a trial and resulted in a 12-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Prosecutors Pointed to the Violence of the Attack
Marshall was sentenced Thursday after entering her guilty plea on Friday.
Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said the sentence reflected “the violent nature of this attack and the devastating injuries suffered by the victim.”
Lacy also acknowledged that the prison sentence cannot erase what happened to the victim or the lasting consequences of the attack. She stressed that no sentence “can undo the lasting effects” of the incident.
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The case highlights the serious consequences that can follow a violent assault in a workplace, particularly when prosecutors establish that threats had allegedly been made before the attack itself.
Former Wendy’s Employee Will Face Supervised Release
Marshall will remain in the Illinois Department of Corrections for 12 years under the sentence imposed by the court. After completing her prison term, she will also face three years of mandatory supervised release.
The case began with an alleged threat roughly a month before the stabbing and ultimately resulted in a first-degree attempted murder conviction.
While prosecutors did not provide a specific explanation for the conflict between the two employees, the prior threat and the subsequent attack formed a significant part of the case against Marshall.
The victim’s injuries also underscored the severity of the assault, with prosecutors describing her condition immediately after the stabbing as critical.
For now, Marshall’s prison sentence brings the criminal proceedings to a close, while the victim is left to deal with the consequences of an attack that prosecutors said caused devastating injuries.
What do you think about the 12-year sentence in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us whether you think workplace threats should be taken more seriously before they escalate into violence.
