Atwater woman arrested in mother’s stabbing

A 25-year-old Atwater woman was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of stabbing her mother, police reported.

Atwater police found a 51-year-old woman losing consciousness about 5 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of Broadway Avenue, said Atwater Lt. Samuel Joseph.

The victim suffered cuts to her face and arms that were not life-threatening and was treated at Mercy Medical Center in Merced.

Joseph said the woman mumbled the word “knife” to police and identified her daughter, Miranda M. Stailey, as her attacker. Officers believe Stailey attacked her mother after an argument. The nature of the dispute remained unclear Wednesday, police said.

Police found a knife at the scene, but officers remained uncertain Wednesday whether it was the weapon used in the attack. The knife did not appear to have any blood or other physical evidence connecting it to the incident, Joseph said.

Police found Stailey near the scene but said she refused to speak to investigators. She was arrested after a short struggle with officers.

Stailey was booked into the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on suspicion of assault. She remained in custody Wednesday on $10,000 bail, according to the Merced County sheriff’s booking records.

Records show Stailey was jailed twice earlier this year for public intoxication. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in this case, Joseph said.

This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Atwater woman arrested in mother’s stabbing."