Residents of a midtown Sacramento senior living facility initially had plenty of theories about what happened to a 75-year-old woman who was rushed to the hospital Friday after being stabbed.
Some thought it was a rumor. Others assumed an outsider had broken into the assisted living residence and attacked her.
When one of their own, a 70-year-old resident, was arrested late Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder, her neighbors were stunned.
“I’ve been here 14 years. We’ve never had anything violent like this happen, ever,” said Ramona Fuentes. “Your first thought is, ‘Oh my God, did somebody get in here?’ But when you realize everyone’s talking about two ladies that live here, well, it’s just unreal.”
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According to police, a fight broke out late Friday after Barbara Gayl Holland walked over to her neighbor’s door at St. Francis Manor, in the 2500 block of J Street. Investigators believe Holland pulled a knife and stabbed her 75-year-old neighbor before fleeing the scene.
Holland was later arrested and booked into the Sacramento County jail. She is not eligible for bail.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the dispute between Holland, a 5-foot 3-inch, 100-pound woman, and her neighbor. But police said the two women had an ongoing dispute.
Sharon Ramsay, who has lived in the building for eight years, said she didn’t know Holland personally.
“She hardly talks to anyone in the building,” Ramsay said. “She’s not very nice, from what I’ve seen. She doesn’t really get along with other people very well.”
Holland, according to California professional license records, was a registered nurse until 2010. She is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court.
The victim, who remained hospitalized as of late Saturday, is expected to recover fully, according to police.
“People can be irritated with each other, but you never hear about someone going after another person with a knife like that,” said Kathleen Kelly, a St. Francis Manor resident of four years. “I’m just glad that, as far as the person who was stabbed, she’s going to be OK.”
Kelly, who said she opened the manor’s door for emergency responders Friday night, said she was told the two women had “previous misunderstandings” that were “carried too far.”
Call The Bee’s Marissa Lang at (916) 321-1038. Follow her on Twitter @Marissa_Jae.
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