A Virginia woman accused of stabbing her college roommate to death has obtained the services of a lawyer who defended the notorious Lorena Bobbitt.
Richmond-Times Dispatch reports that 21-year-old Luisa Ines Tudela Harris Cutting hired lawyer Blair Howard to represent her after she was charged with second-degree murder last Thursday. Cutting is accused of stabbing and killing her roommate, 20-year-old Alexa Cannon, inside their shared apartment off of the 1200 block of Clement Street in Radford.
The apartment complex is a few blocks away from Radford University, where both women were students.
Howard, a veteran defense attorney, represented Bobbitt during her 1993-1994 trial for malicious wounding. Bobbitt became infamous after she cut her husband’s penis off and threw it into a field. She was later acquitted due to insanity.
Howard also represented Virginia heiress, Susan Cummings, in 1998. Cummings killed her Argentine polo player Roberto Villegas, and was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. She served a little under 60 days in jail.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Cutting reportedly called 911 after the stabbing. A dispatcher reported hearing a woman screaming “and making reference to a knife.” When officers arrived, Cutting allegedly told them to arrest her and admitted she stabbed the victim.
“Arrest me. I killed her,” Cutting said as she put her blood-soaked hands in the air, according to the arrest warrant.
The arrest warrant also indicated authorities found Cannon lying on the floor inside the apartment, in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds inflicted, and her cellphone in one hand. Police said the suspect was covered in blood, but uninjured.
It’s unclear what events or issued led up to the stabbing. Social media posts depicted the roommates as best friends. In July, Cannon posted a photo of Cutting, congratulating her on becoming the president of the Latinos Student Alliance.
So incredibly proud of my best friend, Luisa Cutting for becoming Latinos Student Alliance's President! I know you're going to be amazing with everything you do! Love you more!!
Posted by Alexa Cannon on Monday, July 9, 2018
On Wednesday, NBC 7 reported that search warrants obtained by authorities led them to believe that both Alexa and the suspect were telling others about ongoing issues. What the problems were, remain unclear.
Luisa Cutting (allegedly) stabbed her roommate to death in Virginia last night. You'll never guess what cops found at the scene. pic.twitter.com/lRbcx7t8pB
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) January 25, 2019
Investigators are currently analyzing cellphones, social media, as well as GPS between the suspect and victim. Another search warrant showed police took a number of items from inside the apartment into evidence, including pills, grinders, smoking devices, and a “brown chalk-like” substance.
Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Luisa Cutting/Police Handout; Alexa Cannon/Facebook]
