Stepdad stabs 6-year-old boy who survived brain tumor, Louisiana family says
A stepdad repeatedly stabbed his 6-year-old stepson — a brain cancer survivor — during a domestic dispute in Louisiana that left the boy with life-threatening injuries, according to family and law enforcement.
The 37-year-old has now been charged with eight counts of attempted first-degree murder, domestic abuse battery with child endangerment, two counts of aggravated assault and resisting an officer, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office announced June 2.
“It was deemed that all eight of the occupants of the home were threatened with extreme violence,” deputies said June 4 after the addition of the attempted murder charges.
McClatchy News is not identifying the man to avoid identifying the 6-year-old, who family said is the man’s stepson.
“It’s very important that everyone realizes (our grandson) is a cancer patient,” his grandmother, Norma Modglin, told KATC. “He was diagnosed with a massive brain tumor that was so deep, when it was removed, he lost all mobility on the left side of his body. He could not walk.”
A Facebook page dedicated to the boy’s cancer journey has now shifted to updates of life-threatening injuries he sustained in the June 1 attack.
His father said the boy had a brain tumor removed in 2022 and remains in physical therapy.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told KPLC the boy’s mother and stepfather were involved in a “domestic altercation,” at home with their seven children. During the altercation, the stepfather stabbed the 6-year-old in face, neck and chest, deputies said.
When first responders arrived, “They immediately found a young child on the floor bleeding severely from numerous lacerations,” Maj. Mark LeBlanc told KPLC.
The boy was rushed to one hospital before being airlifted to another, deputies said.
The boy’s father said he underwent surgery and had a brain hemorrhage, and doctors learned one of the stab wounds narrowly missed his heart.
“He’s a fighter, he’ll get through this as well,” his grandfather, Hal Modglin, told KLFY.
The stepfather was a teacher at Sulphur High School, where he’s been placed on leave, KADN reported.
St. Landry Parish is about a 65-mile drive west from Baton Rouge.
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Stepdad stabs 6-year-old boy who survived brain tumor, Louisiana family says."