Newport Woman Charged In Chapel Terrace Stabbing

NEWPORT, RI — Police were called to the Newport Hospital emergency room shortly after midnight on Tuesday for a stabbing victim. The hospital staff later told officers they thought they were obligated to report the apparent crime, but later realized that was not the case. The victim did not want to talk to officers. However, given the nature of the injury, police decided to investigate.

According to the arrest report, the woman victim had a bruise under her chin, She told them the bruise was from a broken jaw, which had happened a few days earlier. She declined to tell police how it happened. She did let police see a 3-inch long laceration on her thigh near the left hip. She told police that had happened at the Crystal Lynn Cordeiro's house but added they are friends and have been friends for years.

Police went to the suspect's residence. They saw broken glass on the front steps, but no one answered the door. Later that morning, a witness did speak with an officer. She said the suspect became angry when the victim told her she didn't deserve her children. Cordeiro allegedly broke a Bud Light beer bottle and stabbed her with it.

An officer contacted Cordeiro's mother, who said her daughter was at work. They arranged for her to meet with police at her home. Cordeiro spoke with the officer and then said she would like to consult a lawyer. Police went to court and obtained a warrant for her arrest and took her into custody.

Cordeiro was charged with a felony, assault with a dangerous weapon (a knife or cutting instrument).