Letter carrier stabbed, suspect caught after car crashes

Just after 6 p.m. Tuesday, Kokomo Police officers were dispatched to a stabbing that had just occurred in the 800-block of North Main Street.

Upon officers’ arrival, they located a female United States Post Office letter carrier suffering from multiple stab wounds. A description was given of the suspect and the vehicle. Shortly after the stabbing occurred, Kokomo Police officers were dispatched to two separate personal injury crashes on Markland Avenue at Jay Street and on Markland Avenue at Ohio Street.

The offending vehicle, a 2004 Buick, fled east on Markland Avenue from the first crash at a high rate of speed and was disabled after crashing into another vehicle at Ohio Street. The roadway was closed down briefly for the investigation. The driver of the Buick, identified as Laura Fortson, 62, of Kokomo, was identified as the suspect in the stabbing of the letter carrier and being the driver involved in both crashes. Fortson later admitted to attacking the letter carrier and was taken into custody for Attempted Murder, a Level 1 Felony; Aggravated Battery, a Level 3 Felony; Criminal Recklessness, a Level 5 Felony; Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony; and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class A Misdemeanor.

More charges are expected as a result of the two crashes that Fortson caused.

Assisting in this investigation was the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, Medics from Community Howard Regional Health Hospital, Medics from Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo, and the United State Postal Inspection Service.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Lt. Jordan Wiseman at (765) 456-7600 or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline at (765) 456-7071.  You may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-262-TIPS with your anonymous tip.