PORTLAND, TN (WSMV) — As a family in Robertson County said for them, Monday night was really every family’s worst nightmare. A stranger came into their house armed with a knife and stabbed the mother, father and pregnant daughter. They realized it was their new neighbor.
The son, Justin Stradner, said he heard the noise, walked into the living room and saw his mom and dad covered in blood on the floor. Justin said through tears, he told her they loved him and thought they weren’t going to make it. “One minute, I’m reading a story to my little girl,” Justin said. “Next thing I know, someone is stabbing us at the front door and trying to kill us.”
Justin Stradner remains strong for his family after being triple stabbed at his parents’ home in Robertson County, near the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. “We’ve been living on the same street for 20 years,” Justin said. “We’ve never done anything like this.”
On Monday night, Justin said a man whom police have now identified as 23-year-old Austin Swanson, pulled up to the steps in the front yard and parked in the middle of the yard. “My dad meets him at the front door,” Justin said. “He breaks the door with a knife. My dad tried to push him through the door. He stabbed my dad in the neck and punctured his lung.”
After Justin’s father, 53-year-old Jerry Stratner, was stabbed, Justin’s mother, 52-year-old Tammy Stradner, fled. “He bit my mom with her lip,” Justin said.
Justin’s sister, 23-year-old Tamali Stradner, was also stabbed in the chest when she was eight months pregnant. Justin said he fought Swanson and kept him on the ground until the law went into effect. “I didn’t know if he had another knife or a gun, so I put his hands where he couldn’t reach anything,” Justin said.
The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office said they had not determined a motive. Justin said the Swansons moved to a couple’s home this summer, but Justin said his family had never had contact with Swanson. Justin said Swanson was inconsistent last night. Justin said, “He was saying he was the police and all kinds of stuff that didn’t make sense.”
Together, Justin had a niece and two younger daughters. “They ask me, ‘Dad, why did the bad guy come into our house?’ And I don’t have an answer for that,” Justin said.
Justin said that both his parents are still hospitalized tonight but their condition is stable. Her sister was released from the hospital on Monday as there was no threat to her pregnancy. Justin wanted to thank the first responders for getting there so quickly. The family has also established a GoFundMe for all medical bills.
WSMV.com With you now on the go! Get the latest news updates and videos, 4WARN weather forecasts, weather radar, special investigation reports, sports headlines and more from News4 Nashville.
>> Click/tap here to download our free mobile app. <
Copyright 2021 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
.