Family of 20-year-old stabbing victim says she’s struggling to breathe, walk and sleep
May 27, 2025, 8:25 AM | Updated: 8:30 am
Kourtney Mansfield’s family said she’s suffering physically and psychologically after she was stabbed multiple times Saturday. (Courtesy, Mansfield family)
(Courtesy, Mansfield family)
ST. GEORGE – There are new details about a brutal stabbing that left a 20-year-old caretaker seriously injured.
According to an affidavit, St. George police found her on the ground, covered in blood around 2 a.m. Saturday. Police said her 72-year-old client, Keith Dee Johnson, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
On GoFundMe, the family of this stabbing victim identified her as Kourtney Mansfield, a student at Dixie Tech. Her sister told KSL Mansfield is traumatized and really struggling after the incident.
Police documents said she was stabbed in the back, chest, head, hand, and her ankle.
According to the affidavit, the caretaker told police she was sitting on the couch when Johnson attacked her. She said it was unprovoked. Johnson told officers, without them questioning him, that she attacked him.
She works for Chrysalis, a company that provides care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Kourtney Mansfield’s family said she’s suffering physically and psychologically after she was stabbed multiple times Saturday. (Courtesy, Mansfield family)
Matt Hansen, executive director of the Homecare and Hospice Association of Utah, of which Chrysalis is not a member, said health care employees need training for situations like this.
“First of all, with the onboarding is training them to be vigilant,” Hansen said. “Secondly, train them how to get out, that if there is danger, they need to be aware of how to get out safely and not depress the situation that they’re not able to deal with. Third would be de-escalation techniques.”
He said caretakers should know where the exit is and have a clear pathway to that destination.
He said, know the capabilities of the person you’re treating.
“You have to know if there’s any type of a weapon or potential weapon that’s arm’s length,” Hansen said.
He said the association provides de-escalation training that includes monitoring tone of voice, gestures, body language and conversation techniques.
Hansen said it’s critical providers have this training regularly.
“Role playing is important,” he said. “I’ve seen virtual trainings with headsets where they can put them in different scenarios, and helps coach people through the situation.”
When situations escalate, Hansen said if someone can’t get out, use self-defense.
“There are also tools to be able to call for help,” he said. “There are a number of different apps that are available on the phone… With a single button, it’ll sound a loud alarm, which oftentimes will startle, scare an attacker, and at the same time, it’s calling 911.”
Hansen said this is a tragic situation.
“We have to be very careful not to pass judgment on the individual nor on the caregiver,” he said. “If somebody has a particular diagnosis, it’s dementia or schizophrenia or other diagnoses, they may be perceiving the reality much differently.”
Hansen said healthcare workers should be prepared to handle heated confrontations, but he said this case is rare.
“We don’t want people to be afraid of going into people’s homes. There’s so much good that is done in home care,” he said. “However, we are aware of a few other cases. And we mourn with them. And sometimes it’s resulting in a caregiver’s death.”
Johnson is being held in the Purgatory Correctional Facility.
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