BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

 On Valentine’s Day, (February 14) 2007, Ms. Lori Harrison married Miguel Angel Ruiz. Three days later, she was stabbed several times and her attacker turned the knife on her 10-year-old son when he attempted to intervene.

When police arrived, Ms. Harrison told them the stabbing resulted from an altercation after she discovered her husband, Miguel Angel Ruiz, using drugs and alcohol.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Ruiz that night. He was charged with several crimes ranging from attempted murder to aggravated child abuse. Last week, Ruiz received 2 life sentences for the attempted murder of Ms. Harrison and her son, Damar Warburton.

Ruiz was also sentenced to 30 years for aggravated battery with a weapon causing great bodily harm, 30 years for aggravated child abuse, and 5 years for false imprisonment, records show. [private]

Of the verdict, Ms. Harrison said, “I feel great. I can finally move on with my life. I didn’t know if I was going to stay in Florida, so it was touch and go for a while.”

Ms. Harrison stayed in the hospital for a week following the attack. She has one wound that began at her ear and stopped in the middle of her neck. Her son was stabbed 18 times, but his wounds were superficial and he fully recovered from them.

Trial Delayed

Normally, a trial moves through the system in less than 4 years. However, jail records show that Ruiz was admitted to the State Mental Hospital at least 3 times prior to the stabbing. He was found incompetent and hospitalized 3 times after his arrest in connection with the stabbing.

Ms. Harrison said she and her son testified during the trial. She attended every day. “When I heard the verdict, I was squeezing the Victim’s Assistant’s hand so hard. And I asked for a copy of the verdict because I wanted to read it later,” she said.[/private]