Woman stabbed 19 times in Burger King parking lot after minor crash

A woman in Arizona was discovered in a Burger King parking lot with stab wounds and "savagely beaten" after she pulled over to share information with a man she had a slight car accident with, who attacked her "without explanation," as per police reports.

Joseph Sellers, 30, stands accused of attempted second-degree murder in relation to the February 20 event, which left the victim in critical condition with a collapsed lung and 19 "small stab wounds around half an inch long on her face, neck, and left side, leading to significant and disfiguring harm to the victim," based on court documents seen by Law&Crime.

The probable cause affidavit for Sellers' detention mentions he informed police both individuals pulled over in proximity to the Mesa Burger King where his victim was found "viciously beaten and heavily bleeding" after a minor vehicle incident with him occurred.

"The defendant confessed he became enraged by the incident and suspected he was being 'gang stalked,'" the affidavit reveals.

"He stopped to exchange particulars when the victim reached into her purse, and given that Arizona is an 'open carry state,' he began striking the victim repeatedly, which lasted between 30 seconds and a minute, according to surveillance of the attack."

Sellers reportedly acknowledged that "it seemed plausible that she might have been attempting to retrieve her information for him," but affirmed he was indifferent, per the affidavit.

"He conceded that his intent was to injure the victim and took her phone afterward trying to verify if she was trailing him, despite them traveling in different directions during the sideswipe incident," the affidavit states.

Mesa Police discovered the victim in the Burger King parking area at 4403 E. Broadway Road and rushed her to the hospital.

She also suffered a fractured tooth and was "bleeding extensively from her face, neck, and chest" upon officer arrival, according to reports.

"She tried to reach the police after the other motorist left but found her phone missing," the affidavit notes. "[The victim] was able to use her smartwatch for assistance."

Sellers left the state post-attack and was found in Las Vegas several days later, as informed by officers.

He was allegedly operating the same car as on the stabbing day, though its wheels had a different paint colour. Sellers was also reportedly found with the victim's phone.

"A search warrant was executed for the defendant's car, during which several box cutters were found, consistent with the injuries inflicted upon the victim," the affidavit says.

"The defendant was interrogated under Miranda rights and admitted to being involved in a vehicle accident with the victim, who was a total stranger to him, and assaulting her."

Sellers was transported back to Mesa, Arizona, and detained on charges of attempted second-degree murder, armed robbery, and burglary. His preliminary hearing is set for April 2.