Stevensville Woman Charged With Attempted Murder: State Police

STEVENSVILLE, MD — A woman from Stevensville and a man from Queenstown are charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a man who has so far refused to answer questions from police investigating the attack. Maryland State Police have arrested Emily Hert, 20, of Stevensville, and William Tulowitsky, 21, of Queenstown, on charges of attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and accessory after the fact.

The victim — Joseph Lanfranchi, 30, of Chester, Maryland — was reportedly dropped off about midnight at the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center in Grasonville for multiple stab wounds. He was later flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore for treatment. Authorities say Lanfranchi has refused to answer any of the troopers’ questions.

Investigators say Lanfranchi and another person were walking along Little Creek Road near Dominion Road in Chester when they saw a yellow Volkswagen Beetle parked on the shoulder. Lafranchi reportedly approached the passenger-side window, was pulled into the car and stabbed before the Volkswagen fled the scene.

Troopers say the same Volkswagen Beetle was previously stopped about 3 miles from the crime scene by the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic violation. Hert was identified as the Beetle's driver, and the front-seat passenger was identified as Tulowitsky. A third occupant of the vehicle has been identified but not named by State Police.

Authorities took Hert and Tulowitsky into custody at a residence on River Run in Queenstown. The Volkswagen Beetle was found parked under the Kent Narrows bridge.

Hert is being held on a $50,000 bond at the Queen Anne’s County Detention Center. Tulowitsky is waiting to be seen by a district court commissioner, authorities said Wednesday.