October 1, 2008
A 43-year-old woman who was stabbed in the neck two weeks ago in downtown Baltimore between the Inner Harbor and city convention center has died. Helen Reightler, who relatives said had been homeless for about the past six months, was paralyzed and had been recovering at a rehabilitation center since the Sept. 18 incident. But she came down with a fever and slipped into shock, according to Donny Moses, a police spokesman. She was taken to Sinai Hospital on Sunday, where she died a day later. Police said Edward Thornton, 54, of no fixed address, was arrested after officers responded to a report of an assault in progress at West Pratt and South Charles streets and saw Thornton running from the scene. According to charging documents, he had been arguing with Reightler about some cardboard that she and her boyfriend were sleeping on before stabbing her in the back of the neck with a folding knife. Thornton was taken to Central Booking, where he was charged with attempted first-degree murder and related charges. Moses said Thornton's charges will be upgraded to first-degree murder.

Justin Fenton