Freetown woman charged with attempted murder after being accused of fleeing with 2-year-old after stabbing

A Freetown woman has been charged with attempted murder after an incident Friday evening.

According to Lieutenant Steven E. Abbott, on Friday, at approximately 8:22 p.m., the Freetown Communications Center received a call from a resident who reported that a neighbor, covered in blood, was at the resident’s door. Officers were dispatched to the location and, upon arrival, identified the female as 25-year-old Angelleah Duarte. Preliminary information revealed that she had been involved in a stabbing at a nearby home.

Police proceeded to the home where they discovered a 56-year-old victim suffering from a stab wound to the face. The victim told police that Duarte was responsible for the stabbing and had fled from the home with a 2-year-old child. The victim was transported by Freetown ambulance to a local hospital.

Police, now joined by the department’s K-9 unit and members of the fire department, began a search of the area for the child. The search was then intensified to include K-9, drone and search and rescue teams from the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council.

Additionally, residents were alerted to the missing child and search activity via a reverse 911 call. In the meantime, Duarte was transported by Freetown ambulance to a local hospital.

At approximately 10:57 pm, a police drone equipped with a thermal camera located the child in a wooded area and the operator directed nearby K-9 officers to her location. Considering the child’s prolonged exposure to the rain and cold temperature, she was transported via Lakeville ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Duarte was arrested and upon discharge from the hospital was transported to the Freetown police station for booking. She was charged with the following offenses: attempted murder and assault by means of a dangerous weapon. Bail was set at $50,000 and she is scheduled to be arraigned at the Fall River Justice Center on Monday, December 19th.