BENNINGTON -- A Bennington woman who was allegedly stabbed in the chest two weeks ago was arraigned Wednesday in Bennington District Court on charges she held a knife to a woman’s throat in a separate incident.
Jayde Caslin, 18, of Pleasant Street, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault. She was arraigned in Bennington District Court via video from the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland.
On Oct. 21, Amanda J. Thomayer, 26, of Main Street, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon. According to a police affidavit, on Oct. 20, Caslin said that she had gone to Thomayer’s home with a friend to confront her about text messages. Caslin said that Thomayer attacked her and at some point in the fight, stabbed her in the chest.
Police said that no knife was found at the scene, and Thomayer said that Caslin likely stabbed herself.
Knife fight
According to an affidavit filed by Bennington Police Officer David Faden, on Nov. 2, a 10:51 p.m., he was called to Pleasant Street for a reported knife fight. Faden said that when he arrived at the apartment in question, there was a large clump of hair hanging from the door. Faden said he met with Louise Hayes, her son Joshua Hayes, and a juvenile.
Faden said that the three reported that Caslin entered their home, hit Louise Hayes in the head and held a knife to her throat. They said that Caslin had left and gone upstairs to the
Faden said he spoke with Caslin, who had scratches on her chin and chest, and that she told him she had gone to the downstairs apartment to confront two males living there about them having called a friend of hers a name. Faden said that Caslin denied bringing a knife with her.
According to the affidavit, Faden said that a neighbor reported seeing a fight between Louise Hayes and Caslin, but did not see a knife. The witness told Faden that he did hear Louise Hayes say, "Get away from me with that knife," or words to that effect.
Faden said that after being confronted with the witness’ remarks, Caslin admitted to going to the Hayes’ apartment with a knife and did so to intimidate Hayes. She said that she stabbed the door to the Hayes apartment and fought with Louise Hayes. She said that Joshua Hayes took the knife and threw it in a drawer. Faden said he confiscated the knife and saw that it had white paint on it, like the door.
According to the affidavit, Louise Hayes said that earlier she, her son, and the juvenile were coming up the building’s stairs and had to crawl over two males and two females sitting in the stairwell. She said the group began laughing, and that Joshua Hayes and the juvenile began to argue with them.
Louise Hayes said she ordered her son and the juvenile inside and thought the matter was settled when Caslin began banging on the door. Louise Hayes said she opened it and that Caslin stuck her foot inside. She said that Caslin demanded that Joshua Hayes and the juvenile come outside. Louise Hayes said no, and managed to shut the door.
Headlock used
She told police that she then heard Caslin bang on the door with an object. She said that she opened the door and realized that Caslin had a knife. She said a fight ensued, and that Caslin put her in a headlock and pulled out her hair.
She said the juvenile came out to break up the fight, but was hit in the face by Caslin.
According to the affidavit, Caslin told police at the Bennington Police Station that she pulled Louise Hayes’ hair and hung a piece of it on her door "as a parting gift."
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