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WEST VALLEY CITY — Two children were hospitalized Saturday after police say their mother stabbed them inside their home.
Mary Galvis, 47, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of three counts of domestic violence aggravated assault.
A neighbor, Sharon Jensen, said she is "shocked" at what happened.
"She has always been a wonderful mother and nothing but patient with her children," Jensen said. "I've seen her out spending time with her kids. She's a caring and loving person."
"I've never seen anything of anger come from her," the neighbor said. "I am just in shock."
West Valley Police Lt. Dalan Taylor said police were called to the home at 3427 S. 2660 West home about 6:15 a.m. with a complaint of a "mental subject," as well as the stabbings.
When police arrived, they found two children — a 12-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy — with multiple and serious stab wounds, Taylor said. Witnesses confirmed seeing the mother "stab two of her children several times with a knife," according to a jail report.
The two children were taken to a hospital in serious condition but have since been stabilized following medical treatment. Taylor said he expected the kids to be OK.
A teenage sister who was also home at the time of the incident, received minor injuries "while attempting to take the knife from the mother," the report states. She was treated for her injuries at the scene.
Taylor said the teenage girl woke her father with her screams and then later called police.
"The father heard the commotion and was able to prevent it from going any further," he said.
A check of Utah state court records indicates that Galvis, a Colombian national, has no prior criminal history other than issues with debt collection. Taylor said she was cooperating with the investigation, which is ongoing.
"Investigators are still speaking to her and trying to find out what caused all this," the lieutenant said.
Contributing: Brianna Bodily and Sandra Yi
