Daughter Charged in December Stabbing

STAMFORD -- A Greenwich woman was arraigned in state Superior Court Tuesday after police said she stabbed her mother during a domestic violence incident that occurred in December 2009.

Gail Stechel, 20, of Dingletown Road, was charged with first-degree assault and interfering with an emergency 911 call after turning herself in on an arrest warrant Monday night.

Police said officers responded to Stechel's Dingletown Road residence on Dec. 26, 2009, for a report of a possible overdose on pills. When officers arrived, however, they discovered there had been an altercation the night before that left the mother with "numerous facial contusions," police said. Upon further investigation, officers at the scene learned Stechel's mother had been stabbed several times in the face, back, hands arms and legs, according to Lt. Daniel Allen.

Allen said it was not clear if the wounds were superficial or deep, penetrating wounds. Police said if the victim had received treatment at a hospital, police would have been notified to investigate a possible crime. However, they were never notified about the altercation the night of the alleged stabbing.

Allen said the victim and Stechel were taken to Greenwich Hospital on Dec. 26, 2009. The victim's wounds did not appear to be life-threatening then, police said.

Stechel was treated for a possible overdose on pills, according to police reports.

Allen said in the months after responding to the incident, detectives decided to pursue an arrest warrant to charge her with the crimes.

Police said officers found a knife and other evidence at the scene of the home.

Allen said Stechel posted a $100,000 bond and was released Monday night.

Her attorney, Mark Sherman, said Stechel appeared in state Superior Court for her arraignment Tuesday afternoon, where a judge held her bond at $100,000 and issued a partial protective order allowing Stechel to have contact with her mother, but barring her from any further physical altercations.

Sherman declined to comment on the circumstances behind the incident, as did police.

"This is a delicate, sensitive family situation," said Sherman following the hearing. "The family has begun the healing process and put mechanisms in place so that this does not happen again."