Sarasota woman charged with stabbing 6-year-old daughter

SARASOTA -- A woman was charged with attempted murder after stabbing her 6-year-old daughter in the stomach and leg about 12:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Sarasota Police Department.

Ashley Parker, 29, is in custody, according to spokeswoman Genevieve Judge, after being arrested at her home in the 2100 block of Leon Avenue in Sarasota.

The injured girl was taken to an area hospital and is listed in critical but stable condition.

Officers said Parker's parents called 911 after finding their wounded granddaughter wrapped in a pink blanket and lying on the floor in the residence hallway.

The grandfather said the family went to breakfast at McDonald's at 8 a.m. Friday and he and the girl's grandmother brought Parker and her daughter home.

After a few errands, the grandfather said he returned to the home and found the door locked, according to the report.

When he saw the girl and called 911, Parker reportedly grabbed a black-handled knife and began waving it around.

When Parker's parents got into the car to follow the paramedics, Parker jumped into the backseat with a knife but they were stopped by police.

Natalie Harrell, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Children and Families, emailed DCF is in the early stages of its investigation.

"I can confirm we have an open child protection investigation involving the child," she said. "Also, the child is currently under the custody of the department."

Harrell said DCF has had prior involvement with the mother, but was unable to give specific details per Florida Statute 39.202(1), which covers confidentiality of reports and records in cases of child abuse or neglect.

In 2009, Parker was charged with child neglect causing great harm, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office website.

The investigation is ongoing.

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Sarasota woman charged with stabbing 6-year-old daughter ."