CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: $100,000 bail for suspect in Admiral stabbing

(Monday photo by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)

A judge has set bail at $100,000 for 26-year-old Kierra M. Ward, arrested Monday afternoon after a short police standoff on an Admiral street, accused of stabbing a woman who was out for a walk with her baby.

Probable-cause documents from today’s bail hearing don’t reveal much more about the attack beyond what we and commenters reported yesterday – the brief police narrative says the original call was that a woman had stabbed another woman; first officers on the scene reported finding Ward, holding “a large kitchen knife,” and launching the eventually successful attempt to get her to surrender less than an hour later, while other officers found the victim and cared for her until SFD arrived to take her to the hospital. The court document describes her as having suffered injuries to her head, face, and hands “from Ward slashing at her with the large knife.” (Her infant son was not injured.) The document also says Ward threatened to stab a man who was trying to help the victim and pointed the knife at him, which explains why the original notation on her jail-register listing included investigation of felony harassment as well as investigation of assault. The documents do not mention anything about Ward having a criminal record, and as we noted in Monday’s coverage, we have not found one online.

The victim, according to a commenter and to someone who called us today, is out of the hospital and continuing her recovery at home.

Regarding commenters recognizing Ward as someone who has long slept outdoors at Hiawatha Playfield, today’s documents list her “last known address” as being on Walnut SW just east of Hiawatha.Community Center. Our conversation with the aforementioned caller may explain that: The caller contacted us in response to our question about whether anyone had reported, and/or tried to get help for, Ward. The caller reported knowing both Ward and the victim, saying that Ward had lived in a car along Walnut until it was towed, and then started sleeping outside on the field. The caller reported befriending and suggesting resources for Ward, with multiple interactions, and said Ward never showed signs of mental illness or other instability, aside from apparently choosing not to take advantage of the suggested resources, so far as the caller knew.

We may find out more details on the case if/when charges are filed in the next day or two. And in case you wondered – the incident was not brought up by anyone at tonight’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, which did not have a police representative in attendance (none was scheduled, but sometimes we’ve seen last-minute changes at neighborhood meetings after an incident of significance).

17 Replies to "CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: $100,000 bail for suspect in Admiral stabbing"

  • Peter October 11, 2017 (11:19 am)

    I work for the City and I reported this person twice as sleeping at Hiawatha playfield. I realize that people have the right to make choices but not a choice to sleep at a park where small kids are playing. This shows the bigger problem with mental health issues with the homeless. You do not know their history or circumstances and that is why we need to make an effort to keep or children and families safe! When a homeless camp is cleaned up you hear everyone complaining about that, but when a woman is walking her baby in a neighborhood and is stabbed that doesn’t frustrate anyone! My family was playing at the big field on Sunday and I watched as this person paced back and forth at the 50 yard line of the football field. I had to constantly tell my kids not to go in either dugout in fear of what was in there (needles or feces). When are we going to say enough is enough when someone gets killed or a child gets hurt!

    • Wsrez October 11, 2017 (3:10 pm)

      I’m really disturbed by it and I have been sending stiff emails to everyone I can think of in Seattle government. I am beyond fed up with the rv fires, camp shootings/ deaths, Needles, trash, human waste, thefts, crazy people attacking citizens, wandering neighborhoods at all hours screaming obscenities, etc, etc. this has gone on too long. How about enforcing laws!!! 

  • Mark October 11, 2017 (11:44 am)

    The bail amount is too low based on the seriousness of the crime.  This person belongs in jail so she cannot hurt anyone again.

    • WSB October 11, 2017 (12:13 pm)

      Bail is not supposed to be an amount that will keep you from getting out. It’s supposed to be an amount that will guarantee you return for your hearings, if you do get out, though $100,000 for a homeless or otherwise indigent person might as well be $1,000,000. As I have reported, Ward appears to have no record (though the final word on that would be in charging documents, if prosecutors find anything elsewhere in the country – Ward told the person with whom we spoke yesterday that she is from Maryland, I checked records there too). Ryan Cox, in comparison, who does have a notable record prior to the similarly violent knife attack for which he is charged, remains jailed with bail set at $150,000. – TR

  • Mark October 11, 2017 (1:14 pm)

    This lady stabbed a woman with a young child and deserves to be dealt with harshly consistent with the appalling crime she committed

  • Never Scared October 11, 2017 (8:55 pm)

    The follow up continues to become more and more interesting. The caller knows both parties? Did the victim and the suspect know one another? Does the caller know what happened? As far as Ms, Ward in the past being someone to fear or keep my child away from I never felt that way. Have sat in the same dugout with her as we waited to use the batting cage, have seen hundreds of kids playing and carrying on about their business on the field, track and inside community center when Ms. Ward was present. She never wanted help or asked for anything. Once mentioned getting her a propane heater and community center attendant response was please don’t it might burn down the dugout! Glad the victim is home and recovering and glad Ms. Ward is in out of the cold. As strange as it sounds not seeing her at Hiawatha anymore will probably get more questions from kids than seeing her did. I know my little guy will probably ask where she is. 

    • WSB October 11, 2017 (9:10 pm)

      The person who called us reported knowing the victim through the church they both attend – whose leadership apparently sent e-mail to the congregation to let people know what had happened – and lives in the Hiawatha area, which is how she met the suspect. The victim told police she did not know the suspect.

    • Mitch October 12, 2017 (12:46 pm)

      Thank you for sharing your experience with the suspect, no doubt one of the far too many homeless and mentally people living on our streets, and for putting a human face on a problem that most of us simply wish would go away. And thank you for your screen name. Fear breeds hatred, neither of which I detected in your thoughtful post. 

    • Not scared either October 12, 2017 (1:10 pm)

      I too had many interactions with her as well. Every Sunday we played softball and would see her down there. She kept to herself and was always kind when I walked by and said hello. I often times ask her if she needed anything and she said she was Fine and would bring her some food. I am glad she is out of the cold too and hope the victim is ok. 

      • Graham Matthews October 14, 2017 (2:49 am)

        Yeah the victim is really okay… PTSD, scarring, possible nerve damage.

      • Esteban October 15, 2017 (2:39 pm)

        Yes , she is out of the cold , will be for awhile , I would say Attempted Murder at least, she should get at least 20 years.

        • WSB October 15, 2017 (3:21 pm)

          We have already reported on the charging in a newer story – first-degree assault and second-degree assault. We’ll continue to follow the case through the system.

  • Junction Lady October 11, 2017 (9:18 pm)

    The details surrounding this act of violence is alarming!  I am interested in knowing the details from the victims POV, however she probably is using all of her energy to recover from this crime and deal with the aftermath of this assault with a weapon.  

  • Graham Matthews October 14, 2017 (2:48 am)

    She’ll get sent to Western State for an eval; they’ll say she isn’t competent to stand trial.

    She will spend a few months there getting minimal services and then get kicked back to the streets.

    Next time maybe she’ll kill someone, perhaps a child… 

  • Libraterri October 14, 2017 (11:40 am)

    I walked by this woman on my way to work 4 days a week for months, and I’d always see her asleep in the dugout, I haven’t seen her there now for a week and I guess this is why. I’m so glad the victim is recovering and I hope she won’t end up with PTSD. I also hope that Ms. Ward can get some kind of help, cause obviously she has some issues. I hate seeing stuff like this, makes me wonder what kind of world my sons will have to live in after I’m gone.

  • face less October 17, 2017 (7:42 pm)

    Does anyone know where to reach this gal. My friend is a retired nurse and is volunteering to take care of her while she heals

    • WSB October 17, 2017 (8:03 pm)

      The GoFundMe page should have e-mail for the organizers.

Sorry, comment time is over.