Mother of Dairy Queen stabbing victim pleads for answers, demands justice

LINCOLN COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Dairy Queen employee was in court today on attempted murder charges for allegedly stabbing another employee, and the victim's mother is now speaking out.

Rachel Sanchez, 20, attended a preliminary hearing on Zoom today for charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault, but the hearing was ultimately rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, July 8.

On Wednesday, June 5, Lena Williams received a terrifying phone call; her 16-year-old daughter, Holley Howard, had been stabbed at work.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever seen, my baby being on a ventilator because of the meanest person,” Williams says. “Horrible. Worst call a mother can get saying her baby is so bad.”

According to a citation from the Kentucky Commonwealth, Sanchez left his job after claiming the victim was “giving him strange looks and she didn't like it.” She then retrieved a long, fixed-blade knife from her home and returned to work with it.

That's when Sanchez allegedly assaulted Howard, cutting her twice in the neck and stabbing her in the stomach.

“She could have died. It was about a few inches from his main artery on his throat,” Williams exclaimed.

Williams describes Holley as an old soul with a big heart. She just doesn't understand why Sanchez would try to kill her daughter.

“Why are you attacking my baby?” You went home and got a knife. You knew you were coming back to attack my daughter,” Williams asked. “Why. Why did you watch her clean the dining room for 30 minutes and then attack her?

In the citation, Sanchez allegedly took medication for schizophrenia and faced several other mental health issues. Sanchez told police she tried to kill her co-worker because she needed to “put an end to the evil.”

Williams thanks the Dairy Queen manager who intervened to save Howard's life and prevent Sanchez from leaving the building.

“My daughter is such a nice person as if this girl had come up to her and told her she was in trouble. Holley would have been her friend,” Williams said.

Howard is back home and fully recovered physically, but Williams says mentally it will take longer.

“She gets what she deserves. I’m sorry but she gets what she deserves,” Williams said.