Stay-at-Home Mom Stabbed in Her Backyard

The random attack happened in the middle of the afternoon.

A random stabbing of a stay-at-home mom in broad daylight has shocked one Gloucester County neighborhood.

Jessica Snyder, 26, was in the backyard of her home along the 100 block of Betsy Ross Way in Deptford Township, N.J. when a man approached her and pulled out a knife, her fiancé told NBC Philadelphia.

The attack happened around noon Monday as Snyder was walking to the mailbox, police say. Her 3-year-old son was inside during the whole incident, according to the fiancé.

"He comes up to her and says 'If you scream, I'll hurt you' and then she says she screams and then the person does stab her," Deptford Police Chief Daniel Murphy said.

Snyder was stabbed once on her right side and on her left arm, police say. She was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J. for treatment. She has since been released.

The randomness of the attack has put many residents on edge.

"There's kids, teenagers that walk the street…it can happen anytime," said neighbor Coleen Sullivan.

A little more than a week ago a taxi driver had his throat slashed while dropping off a fare in a development across the road from where Monday's attack happened. The driver has since recovered, but the suspect, described as a teen, is still on the loose.

The unidentified suspect in Monday's attack is described as a white male in his 30s. He was clean-shaven and wearing a teal shirt and blue jean shorts, police say.

Investigators have yet to release a motive for the attack, but are asking anyone with information to call police at 856.845.6440.

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