4-month-old baby allegedly stabbed by Kentucky mother during Thanksgiving gathering

A Martin County mother was charged on Thanksgiving after she was accused of stabbing her 4-month-old son, according to Kentucky State Police.

The baby’s mother, 38-year-old Katherine Stepp of Tomahawk, faces assault, wanton endangerment, resisting arrest and public intoxication charges. Stepp remained jailed Wednesday on a $10,000 cash bond and was ordered not to have any contact with the baby.

The baby was taken to Highlands Medical Center in Prestonsburg, state police said.

Family members told state police trooper Shane Jacobs that Stepp and her boyfriend showed up to a Thanksgiving gathering at a house in Prestonsburg intoxicated. Stepp allegedly “got the baby” and took him outside to her boyfriend, state police said.

Stepp’s brother Adam Porter told state police that he saw his sister and her boyfriend arguing over the baby, which the brother called “typical,” according to an arrest citation. Stepp’s stepfather, Gregory Lilly, and mother, Katherine Lilly, said the boyfriend was rubbing something on the baby’s face, and the mother was trying to stop him and started arguing, according to court records.

Lilly said Stepp retrieved the baby “and was yelling for everyone to get back, stating everyone was trying to kill her baby,” according to the arrest citation. A stab wound on the baby’s right calf was then observed by family members, who said the baby was bleeding, police said.

When emergency medical services arrived, Stepp was yelling and saying they were trying to kill her baby and pulling on him, the arrest citation said. Stepp initially didn’t allow the emergency crew to treat her son, but eventually, the baby was transported to the hospital, police said.

When Jacobs began interviewing Stepp, she “became combative and started kicking my windows yelling and screaming,” according to the arrest citation.

Jacobs said he “was advised the family was fighting over” the child.

This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 11:02 AM.