Yes, He Was My Friend Before He Stabbed Me

The project I’ve been involved with has brought up many questions about the man that stabbed me. Interviewers are very curious about what type of man would escalate to the point, that he grabs a butcher knife and plunges that knife through a woman’s chest. I do not have a solid answer as to who or why. Would a Criminal Profiler know? Probably not. I am continually told it is a crime of passion, a crime of sudden rage and not premeditated.

Luis,the man that stabbed me was my friend for over a year before he tried to kill me. My sons day care care provider Carol, introduced me to Luis. Luis was Carol’s husbands friend. Luis and his cousin Martine, moved from Florida to Oregon to be near Luis’s younger sister. I always sensed there was more to the story about his move across country, but I never asked him any questions. He would talk about Florida and his fond experiences there. Luis never mentioned former girlfriends and I never brought up sperm donor.

When I developed new friendships after sperm donor, I kept him out of conversation until I felt comfortable enough in the friendship. Luis never asked me much about my past, and I never questioned his.Our friendship developed quickly because of our love for older restored cars. We ran into each other at a few of these Friday night “cruise in” car shows. Local enthusiasts would gather on summer nights to show off their hot rods and custom modifications to classic American cars. I owned one of these classics and was pretty proud to stand out in a sea of testosterone. Luis owned two.

My car always drew a lot of attention because it had a Hemi and was fast. Not the typical car of a mother with two small sons.The “cruise in” car shows would usually last a couple hours. My friend Carol would babysit my sons while I enjoyed a couple hours of adult time. Carol’s husband would be with Luis at the “cruise in”. When I left the car show to pick up my sons at Carol’s house, Luis would arrive at the same time dropping off Carol’s husband.

Carol’s six kids, yes six, would be running and playing outside with my eldest son. My youngest son, still in his walker would be watching the older kids and their antics. Carol would always convince me to stay and hang out. Of course Luis stayed too. My sons both were fond of Luis and my eldest son would always beg Luis to raise his “low rider” Grand Prix up and down.

Luis and his interaction with my sons is what led to my willingness to spend more time together. Luis was always a gentleman to me, opened doors, carried groceries, brought occasional flowers for no special reason. Offered to wash and wax my car, change the oil. When he came by my apartment he always asked me if I needed the trash taken out. He offered to help with little things sperm donor would of never considered doing.

Soon we started having movie nights at my apartment, maybe his or at a mutual friends house. He would rent the movie, pick up snacks purchase dinner and always a little gift or treat for my boys. We became closer, I considered him one of my closest friends. We started attending the “cruise ins” together, both of our cool cars parked side by side. Attendees saw us as a couple.

The national car show came to the Portland Convention Center, Luis called me and invited my sons and I to go with him, his treat.After the show we would drop the boys at Carol’s to catch a movie and dinner and he was going to pay Carol to babysit. While drooling over a Ferrari at the car show, one of the lady’s that was standing at the red velvet rope protecting that Ferrari from visitors greasy fingerprints, leaned over and said to me, “Your husband is so hot.” I said, “He’s not my husband.” When we walked away I looked backed and she was winking at Luis. He asked me, “What did she say to you?” I told him and Luis asked me,”Why didn’t you at least say I was your boyfriend?” I told Luis we hadn’t had a “relationship status” conversation. Luis then leaned toward my ear and said, ” I’m your boyfriend.”

Luis and I went on our date that night, the movie was Pretty Woman, we had dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant, picked up the boys at Carol’s. Luis drove me home, carried my youngest son into my apartment placed him in his crib and kissed me on the forehead goodbye. He didn’t ask if he could spend the night, hang out or jump into my bed.

For months I was happy, my sons were happy, Luis was happy. Just a bunch of happiness and fun that I had not experienced in years. For a Birthday gift Luis gave me one of his Grand Prix’s. We traveled multiple times to the Oregon and Washington coast with my sons. Life seemed pleasant and I felt safe. I had a great new male friend that was not abusive, a decent job, two happy handsome little boys a roof over my head, what more could I ask for.

That’s a little about the man that attacked and stabbed me 21 times.

There were signs of aggression later that caused me to attempt to end the relationship, but not the typical violence you would expect, or that I grew accustomed to at a very young age

Why would ANYONE, male or female grab a butcher knife from a cutting board and plunge that knife into another persons chest? I don’t have an answer for that.

When I was in the hospital recovering from Luis attacking and stabbing me, I found out he had been married while living in Florida. His wife was brutally killed and found in a field. There was never an arrest and he was not a suspect. Did he kill her? My guess is yes.

Where is Luis now? No one seems to know, he supposedly left the country, but that has not been confirmed.