A Tennessee mom who survived being stabbed, beaten and burned alive was surprised with a heart wrenching reunion with the neighbors she credits with saving her life.
Tessa Trotter came home from work on July 1 with plans to bring her two boys, ages 8 and 5, to her twin sister’s house when she says her husband, Zachary Mowel, stabbed her and began beating her. He then doused her with gasoline and left her and the house to burn, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.
“He stood and watched me and kept telling me I was going to die in this house slowly,” Trotter told NewsNation’s “Banfield.”
Tessa Trotter spoke with NewsNation’s Ashleigh Banfield from her hospital bed following the brutal attack. NewsNationThe brutal beating took place in front of the two horrified kids, their mom said. “They’re screaming, ‘Please, don’t kill mommy. Please, daddy, please, daddy, stop,” Trotter told host Ashleigh Banfield from her hospital bed, alongside her mom, Tina.
“I thought I was dead,” Trotter said. “And the only thing I was thinking about were my boys and what would happen to them.”
But two good Samaritans, Ralph Grayson and his son, Clay, were across the street from Trotter’s home when they heard the commotion and ran inside her house to drag Tessa out.
Banfield surprised Trotter by bringing the brave father and son duo on via video chat during their interview.
Trotter immediately broke down in tears.
Ralph and Clay Grayson were across the street when they heard something going on and rushed inside Trotter’s house to drag her out. NewsNation“You’re a part of my life now … I can’t say thank you enough,” she said. “Like I’m beyond grateful. I would not be here if it wasn’t for y’all.”
She said she remembered the moment the door opened and they came to her rescue.
“I’m glad that you have a chance to be in your boys’ life, and I’m glad you’re making the recovery you’re making,” Clay Grayson told her. “Whenever you come home or get out of the hospital, we can sure have something to do with one another.”
Zachary Mowel was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, arson and domestic assault. Dickson County Sheriffs OfficeIn addition to nine stab wounds, a collapsed lung, third-degree burns all over her right leg and had all of her ribs broken, Trotter is paralyzed from the waist down, according to a GoFundMe page started by her sister.
The fundraiser has already raised nearly $70,000 to help the family with medical bills and living expenses.
Mowel, 28, was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson and aggravated assault and domestic assault, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.
