Ronette Ricketts, 40-year-old English teacher at Poughkeepsie High School, is accused of stabbing fellow English teacher Cynthia Glozier, 54, 16 times with a screwdriver after a disagreement, NBC New York reports.
The alleged assault occurred last Thursday. Police told the station that Ricketts stabbed Glozier 11 times in the back, and "several more times" in the chest, shoulder, neck, and head.
The stabbing, which was captured on school surveillance tape and witnessed by students, was allegedly caused by a disagreement over a meeting. Afterwards, student Ryan Morris told NBC New York there was "blood all over the floor."
Attorney Gary Greenwald, Rickett's representation, said Monday that his client is a "much-loved" teacher, and that he will call into question the teacher's mental state during the attack in his defense, the Poughkeepsie Journal reports.
"Generally speaking, there's no issue regarding what occurred," Greenwald told the paper. "But there’s a substantial issue about my client’s mental state."
Glozier was taken to Saint Francis hospital after the attack, and is reportedly in "good condition," according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin.
Superintendent Laval Wilson told the paper he spoke to an assistant principal on the phone, who wanted to relay a message to students:
"She wanted the kids to know she is a strong person and is recovering," Wilson said, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin "We wish her a good recovery."
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