An Alabama father is clinging to life after a heinous attack in downtown Tucson earlier this month, and his family is in dire need of support.
According to KOLD-TV, Jacob Couch and his wife Kristen were peacefully sitting on a bus bench at the corner of 6th and Broadway when a stranger approached and began yelling at them.
The situation escalated when 25-year-old Daniel Michael, a Tucson resident, allegedly attacked Jacob. Court documents detail that Jacob, a devoted father of two, was engaged in a dispute with the man when the unexpected assault took place. Kristen witnessed the attacker strike Jacob in the neck with what appeared to be a machete-like weapon.
The aftermath was catastrophic. Jacob suffered severe bleeding after the blade severed an artery and penetrated deeply enough to hit his skull. This information was confirmed by his sister-in-law, Erica Sims.
Jacob is now on life support at Banner University Medical Center’s ICU. The couple was returning home to Alabama by bus after a vacation in California, choosing to pause their journey in Tucson for some sightseeing.
Authorities acquired surveillance footage capturing Michael nonchalantly leaving the scene of the crime. The video evidence was pivotal in identifying him as the perpetrator.
As reported by KOLD-TV, when police approached Michael at his residence days later, they found a hatchet resembling the one used in the attack, along with matching clothing. Initially, Michael denied involvement but eventually confessed to the assault after viewing the surveillance footage.
The prognosis is grim. Jacob’s brother, Luke Couch, shared, “He’s not expected to make it right now. We’ve just been taking it how we can.”
Michael faces two counts of aggravated assault and, if tragedy strikes and Jacob succumbs to his injuries, additional homicide charges may follow.
To assist Jacob and his family in this critical time, Sims has initiated a GoFundMe campaign. Contributions can be made HERE.
Currently, Michael is detained on a $1 million bond. There have been no fundraising efforts in his name.
