Husband-Wife Attorneys Arrested After Double Stabbing in Va.
There was so much blood that neighbors thought that the victims had been shot. Police responded to an alarm, thinking that they were headed to a home invasion robbery.
Instead, it was perhaps the most extreme alleged case of a disgruntled ex-employee that you'll ever see. Alecia and Andrew Schmuhl, both attorneys, were arraigned this morning on charges of malicious wounding and abduction after they allegedly entered the home of Alecia's former employer and stabbed both him and his wife.
Why? An employment dispute, apparently.
Alecia Schmuhl, (Formerly) of Bean, Kinney, and Korman P.C.
Alecia Schmuhl's LinkedIn profile says that she works at Bean, Kinney, and Korman P.C. Above The Law reports that Alecia was let go from the firm on Friday; the blog also identified the male victim as a partner at that firm, though police have not officially released the victims' names.
Still, local media, including Washington, D.C.'s WUSA-TV, have reported the attack was the result of a "former dispute" and that "one of the suspects is a former employee of one of the victims."
According to The Washington Post, police believe Andrew Schmul -- a former U.S. Army Judge Advocate General who is "seeking opportunities," per his LinkedIn profile -- knocked on the door of the victims' home in McLean, Virginia, then assaulted the 61-year-old man who answered the door. When the man's wife responded to the commotion, she was attacked as well. The Schmuhls "may have tormented the victims for hours," WUSA-TV reports, citing police sources.
The attack ended when one of the homeowners managed to trigger an alarm, causing the Schmuhls to flee.
Arraigned Today
The Schmuhls were arraigned this morning in Fairfax County, Virginia. Apparently Andrew tuckered himself out in the scuffle: The 31-year-old reportedly needed a walker to get to the lectern when he spoke to the judge this morning.
Andrew and Alicia have each been charged with two counts of malicious wounding and two counts of abduction. Alicia also had obstruction and eluding police charges tacked on as well.
According to the Post, the judge said that both would be appointed counsel before their next hearing in early January.
Related Resources:
- VU law school grads charged in Virginia stabbing (The Times of Northwest Indiana)
- Lawyers: How to Tell Bosses, Co-Workers, Judges That They're Wrong (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Veterans: Thinking About Law School? 3 Things You Should Know (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- A Pre-Holiday Checklist for Law Firm Associates (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)