By Jeff Devine
Houston County – Authorities have released new details about a violent domestic incident that occurred Tuesday night in Rehobeth. Deputies with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) say a man was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing his wife and assaulting his teenage stepdaughter during a heated argument.
According to the HCSO, deputies responded to the 300 block of Lantana Court on the evening of October 7 after a 911 call came in from a young girl reporting that her mother had been stabbed.
When law enforcement arrived, they found the woman at a neighbor’s home suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was given emergency treatment at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital.
Investigators said the altercation began when 48-year-old Benford Mafuvadze and his wife began arguing inside their home. The situation escalated, and Mafuvadze allegedly began throwing objects at her. As the victim ran outside to get away, deputies say Mafuvadze followed her out with a kitchen knife and stabbed her several times.
The woman’s 15-year-old daughter reportedly tried to stop the attack but was struck multiple times by Mafuvadze, according to investigators. Mafuvadze is the stepfather of the teen, according to officials.
Both victims sustained injuries that were described as non-life-threatening, and deputies arrested Mafuvadze at the scene shortly after arriving.
He was charged with second-degree assault and third-degree domestic violence and was booked into the Houston County Jail. His bond was set at $36,000. Houston County Jail records show he was released the following day on October 8, when he bonded out.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available by calling the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 18007997233 or texting “Start” to 88788. You can also chat with someone and find other resources by visiting www.thehotline.org.
It is the general policy of the Dale County Chronicle to include the following statement on all reports involving an arrest: in America’s criminal justice system, all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. *Image of Mafuvadze is provided as a courtesy by the Houston County Jail.
