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Kroger knife attack suspect appears in court

Posted at 12:58 PM, Nov 27, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-27 12:58:20-05

CINCINNATI -- A woman arrested after a knife attack outside a Kroger store Wednesday night had her bond set at $100,000 Friday.

Police say Ashley Rhoads, 23, of Harrison, Ohio, tried to rob Elizabeth Galbraith in the parking lot and slashed her with a large knife when she resisted. A group of strangers jumped in to rescue her,  police said.

Galbraith said she stopped at the Glenway Avenue grocery Wednesday night to pick up a few last-minute items for Thanksgiving. She said Rhoads tried to steal her purse.

"All I saw was a dark silver blade and a black handle," Galbraith said. "It happened so fast, so quick, that honestly all I could keep thinking was that, 'This is my purse, you are not getting it.'"

Galbraith's husband, two men and another woman stepped in and helped pull Rhoads off the victim, Saunders said.

Galbraith was wounded in the scuffle and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment.

"I have a cut that went through one of the veins and few spots on my stomach where she did try to stab me," Galbraith said.

Others suffered minor injuries in the scuffle and were treated at the scene, Saunders said.

Rhoads was booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on two counts of felonious assault and one count of aggravated robbery.

Despite the attack, Galbraith said she's grateful she's not in Rhoads' shoes.

"I don't know why she felt she had to rob me, and I hope and I pray that she gets the help that she needs," Galbraith said.