Kivalina woman allegedly stabs family member

February 3rd 10:42 am | Hannah Heimbuch

A Kivalina resident remains in stable condition after having suffered a serious stab wound on Saturday. The family member charged with allegedly stabbing him, Rhonda Norton, 30, is in custody at the Kotzebue holding facility.

Norton is charged with first-, third- and fourth-degree assault.

Alaska State Trooper reports state that around 10 p.m. on Saturday, the victim was trying to prepare their children to leave the home when Norton, who was intoxicated, allegedly plunged a knife into his back.

Around the time of the assault, several other family members arrived at the home to help, and the first on the scene was able to restrain Norton while the victim crawled from the residence.

Having suffered serious injury from the knife wound, he waited on the ground outdoors until additional family found him and took him to the Kivalina Clinic.

Severe weather prevented a Kotzebue Medivac team from arriving until Sunday afternoon. As soon as weather cleared, the injured man was taken to Maniilaq Medical Center in Kotzebue and treated for critical wounds.

Village police responded to the incident initially, and reported it to the Alaska State Troopers on Sunday afternoon. Troopers from Kotzebue arrived Sunday evening to arrest and transport Norton.

According to Kotzebue Trooper Sgt. Duane Stone, the children present during the violent incident are with their grandparents, who flew with a responding team from Kotzebue to be with their grandchildren.

Norton remains in Kotzebue awaiting arraignment, and Trooper investigation into the case is still ongoing.

Kivalina is a dry option community.

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