BENTON – Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn announced Thursday that 47-year-old  Eric Wakefield of Christopher was found guilty by jury verdict of Attempted First Degree Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, and Aggravated Battery following a three-day jury trial this week at the Franklin County Courthouse in Benton.

In the early morning hours of September 26, 2019, Wakefield stabbed his wife of 15 years eight times in the chest, neck, and back with one of their kitchen knives. The attack occurred just before 5 a.m. while the victim was sleeping in the master bedroom of their home in Christopher. The couple’s daughter was present in the home at the time and was abruptly awakened by the sounds of her mother screaming for help. She tried desperately to help her mother but was unable to stop the attack. She then called 911.

Shortly after the 911 call was placed, Christopher Assistant Police Chief Andrew Trogolo arrived at the home and ordered Wakefield to drop the knife in the driveway where he was apprehended. Trogolo and Paramedics Katie Harper and Kara Day quickly assessed the victim’s condition as critical, due to massive blood loss. She was immediately transported to the Christopher school grounds for further transport via helicopter to a St. Louis trauma center, where she spent nine days in recovery. Due to the quick work of Franklin County Dispatcher Tim McGuire, Central Dispatch, Trogolo, and Paramedics Harper and Day, the victim survived.

A jury was chosen on Tuesday, March 7, and evidence was presented on Wednesday, March 8. After closing statements and two hours of deliberation on March 9, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts. Wakefield will be sentenced for the crimes at a later date.

The investigation was conducted by the Christopher Police Department and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigation Unit. The case was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Abby Dinn.