Arizona State University (ASU) student Kaci Sloan attacked one of her fellow students, Mara Daffron, stabbing her twice before one of the witnesses intervened and made Sloan drop the weapon, preventing the escalation of the situation. Multiple witnesses recount that the attack was unprovoked and Sloan faced four charges, including first-degree attempted murder. Now, the first-degree attempted murder charge has been dropped and she is now charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. What awaits her is still unknown.
What Led to Kaci Sloan’s Attack
No one knows what exactly provoked the attack, however, detectives found a note in Sloan’s backpack that referenced the fact that she was “about to commit” an act. There was no reference as to what that act was but the answer became clearer as Sloan talked to detectives. She expressed her desire to “hurt somebody,” and that she chose Daffron as she was “an easier target,” unlike the other person she had the urge to attack who she referred to as “a veteran.”
Per the Daily Mail report, Daffron didn’t realize she was a target at first and went to help Sloan after she tripped and fell but then Daffron sensed that something wasn’t right and ran, and that’s when she was stabbed. Daffron needed emergency treatment as she suffered from a ruptured spleen, and injuries to her chest and arm in the wake of the stabbings. The situation could have worsened if it weren’t for Matthew McCormick, a student who swiftly intervened to stop the attack from escalating, saving Daffron’s life.
The Legalities of Kaci Sloan’s Case
Kaci Sloan has been held at Maricopa County jail since the attack. She faced four charges, the most severe of them being first-degree attempted murder, in addition to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, interfering with an educational institution, and disorderly conduct. However, two of these charges have been dismissed and now, she is being charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.
This leaves Kaci Sloan with a prison term of between two and nine years. Moreover, based on the Fox News Digital report, Judge Ashley Rahaman set bail at $250,000 cash only and listed the conditions of her release should she be able to post bail. Sloan has pled not guilty to both counts and awaits an initial pretrial conference scheduled for November 21. There were approximately 13 witnesses during the attack, including a professor who wrote in a probable cause affidavit that the stabbing occurred without provocation.
The Impact the Attack Has Left
Daffron was scared and confused by Kaci Sloan’s attack. She doesn’t know why would she target her, and her mother is devastated by the dismissal of the two charges. She exasperatedly asked the Daily Mail if “the only way there would be justice is if my daughter had actually died?” Daffron’s mother also stated that Daffron is traumatized. She still doesn’t have it in her to go back to ASU and she’s taking her classes online. Moreover, she suffers from nightmares and pain from her injuries. McCormick is also impacted by the attack. He hopes he never has to face anything similar again and he hopes to see Daffron back on campus again.
Final Thoughts
The impact that Kaci Sloan’s attack left is tragic. It is the equivalent of a school shooting and such attacks should be addressed and punished properly. Whether the dismissal of the first-degree attempted murder charge was a wise move or not is debatable. Sloan proved to be a danger to those around her, expressed her need to harm others, and preyed on the weak. More updates are to come as the case and trial unfurl.
