FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — A Fayetteville woman said an investigation screwup led to the early jail release of the man accused of trying to kill her.
Court documents show Rodner Paul, 40, was released from Cumberland County Detention Center after his first-degree attempted murder case was dismissed by Cumberland County District Court on Nov. 18.
He had been in jail since May on a $1 million bond. He’s accused of stabbing his girlfriend, puncturing her kidney and liver in their Fayetteville home, back in April, before attempting to commit suicide.
North Carolina eCourts records show his case dismissal happened due to no felony file. The victim, who doesn’t want to be identified, told CBS 17 that investigators didn’t file the proper court documents on time, which led to Paul being released back into society hours later.
“They had seven months to put his paperwork on his file, and they failed to do that and released him with no charges I feel like somebody in the police department, at the courthouse, somewhere, somewhere down the line somebody messed up big time and we need answers. We want answers,” the victim said.
CBS 17 reached out to the Fayetteville Police Department for answers. The spokesperson for Fayetteville police wouldn’t answer questions regarding the case and referred us to the district attorney’s office.
The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office would only say the case is pending.
“Now they have another warrant out for his arrest, which is not good for me, because that puts me and my kids, and my family in harm’s way,” the victim told CBS 17.
While dealing with physical and emotional scars after nearly being killed, the victim said she is now fearing for her personal safety.
“I’m super scared to be outside. I don’t even want my kids to go to school,” she said.
“I just pray that they hurry up and lock him up because he is a menace to society in my eyes,” she added.