Court documents say both girls were targeted with a knife and in the crash before military members intervened.
DUPONT, Wash — A Steilacoom woman accused of attacking her two daughters and intentionally crashing their SUV on Interstate 5 near DuPont has been charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Janieka Amber Marie Ellington, 35, faces seven felony charges stemming from the Oct. 5 crash and alleged attacks.
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In addition to the four attempted murder counts, prosecutors charged her with two counts of vehicular assault and one count of felony harassment involving threats to kill. The charges were filed Tuesday in Pierce County Superior Court.
Ellington has not been arraigned on the charges. A judge ordered Tuesday that Ellington be held without bail pending a competency determination to decide whether Ellington is competent to hear the charges against her and enter a plea.
The four attempted murder charges cover two separate methods prosecutors allege Ellington used against her daughters.
Counts one and two accuse Ellington of taking a substantial step toward killing each girl with a knife.
Counts three and four allege she also attempted to kill each child by causing the vehicle crash. Prosecutors allege those acts were committed with premeditated intent.
The crash happened shortly before 9 a.m. Monday on southbound I-5 near Center Drive, Exit 118.
Washington State Patrol said Ellington was driving erratically before her Volkswagen Tiguan struck a barrier, crossed the freeway, hit a semi-truck and struck another barrier before rolling.
According to WSP reports, Ellington’s older daughter told investigators that her mother had woken the girls during the night and said people were following them and they needed to leave. The girl said they drove for about three hours before beginning to head home.
She told a trooper that Ellington threatened to kill both children before the people she believed were following them could do so.
Prosecutors separately charged Ellington with felony harassment, alleging she knowingly threatened to kill both girls and that her words or conduct put them in reasonable fear the threats would be carried out.
Investigators said Ellington tried to stab her older daughter before the crash. After the rollover, WSP said Ellington stabbed the younger girl while she was still inside the vehicle and then tried to stab the older girl outside.
Several people stopped to help, including two men in military uniforms from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Nathan Wilkinson said he was driving to work when he came upon the scene and saw the servicemembers intervene.
“There’s people standing around, then all of a sudden there was a flash, and then the two soldiers jumped on a person… I heard a scream at that time,” said Wilkinson. “I saw one of the soldiers had a knife in his hand that he had dislodged from the person they tackled.”
A WSP report says one of the military members took a pocket knife from Ellington while struggling with her and suffered a scraped finger. Troopers arrived to find military members holding Ellington on the ground.
Wilkinson called 911, and Ellington was taken into custody.
The younger daughter suffered bruising to her right cheek, a broken tibia, a stab wound to her right upper thigh, abrasions on her back and other injuries to her ankle, according to WSP. She was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.
The older daughter was taken to Tacoma General Hospital. A trooper later reported she had scratches on her left foot and minor internal bleeding around her right calf.
Investigators said they smelled alcohol on Ellington after the crash. One WSP report says she told a trooper at the hospital that she had been drinking whiskey straight and had not gone to bed. Her older daughter told investigators she had seen her mother drinking the previous night.
A judge approved a warrant for Ellington’s blood, and a sample was taken at Tacoma General Hospital before she was medically cleared and booked into the Pierce County Jail on Monday.
The attempted murder charges each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $50,000 fine, according to the charging document.
Wilkinson said he hopes the servicemembers who stepped in are recognized for helping.
“They didn’t run away, they didn’t pass, drive on by. They stopped and helped,” he said.