Tennessee mother survived being stabbed, beaten and burned alive Surprised by a heartbreaking reunion and the neighbors she credits with saving her life.
Tessa Trotter had returned home from work on July 1 to take her two sons, ages 8 and 5, to her twin sister’s house when she was stabbed and beaten by her husband, Zachary Mowell, who doused her in gasoline, set her and the house on fire and left. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
“He just stood there, looked at me and kept saying he was going to die slowly in this house,” Trotter told NewsNation’s “Banfield.”
The mother said the brutal assault was carried out in front of her two terrified children. “They were screaming, ‘Please don’t kill our mother. Please, Daddy, please, Daddy, stop,'” Trotter told presenter Ashleigh Banfield from her hospital bed with her mother, Tina.
“I thought I was dead,” Trotter said, “and all I could think about was my boys and what was going to happen to them.”
However, two good Samaritans, Ralph Grayson and his son Clay, who lived across the street from Ms Trotter’s house, heard the commotion, ran into her house and dragged Tessa outside.
Banfield surprised Trotter by bringing in the intrepid father-son duo. We will video chat during the interview.
Trotter immediately broke down into tears.
“You guys are a part of my life now… I can’t thank you enough,” she said. “I can’t thank you enough. I wouldn’t be here without you guys.”
She said she remembers the moment the door opened and they came to help.
“I’m glad you had the opportunity to be a part of your son’s life and I’m glad you’re on the mend,” Clay Grayson told her. “I’m sure we can do some things together when you come home or get released from the hospital.”
Trotter suffered nine stab wounds, a collapsed lung, third-degree burns across his right leg and broken ribs, and is paralyzed from the waist down. A GoFundMe page was started by her sister.
Fundraising efforts have already raised about $70,000 to help the family with medical and living expenses.
Morwell, 28, was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault and domestic violence, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
