A quiet Thanksgiving evening in Arizona turned into a bloody crime scene after a woman allegedly called 911 to report she had just slashed her boyfriend’s throat, telling dispatchers the violent act made the holiday her personal “Independence Day.”
Tamala Rudeseal, 52, Mesa, is facing attempted murder charges following the incident, which occurred just after 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. According to court documents, the call to authorities was chillingly direct, with Rudeseal reportedly stating, “I did just try to murder you” regarding the victim.
When officers arrived at the apartment complex near Broadway Road and Country Club Drive, they found Rudeseal’s boyfriend of 11 years suffering from a massive laceration. Police described the wound as a deep cut extending from the man’s left ear to the center of his throat.
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The victim, whose name has not been released, told investigators he had been asleep when he suddenly woke up to sharp pain. He managed to stem the bleeding with a shirt until first responders arrived to rush him into emergency surgery. He noted that the couple had argued earlier in the day and that Rudeseal often struggled with depression around the holidays.
According to the arrest report, officers located a large folding hunting knife near where Rudeseal was taken into custody.
In subsequent interviews with detectives, Rudeseal reportedly made no attempt to hide her intentions. When investigators asked if she had tried to kill the man, she allegedly replied, “Yes. God, I hope he is dead; it’d be a favor to me, his wife, and his children.”
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Court papers further allege that Rudeseal detailed a gruesome plan to continue the attack had she not been stopped, telling police she intended to slice the other side of his neck and then stab him in the heart.
Rudeseal was booked into the Maricopa County jail on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault. A judge has set her bond at $1 million.
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