A South Carolina woman, Naziyha Weatherall, was denied bond on Friday after being accused of stabbing her Lyft driver 11 times and stealing his vehicle. She faces charges of attempted murder, carjacking, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in Greenville County. The incident took place on April 22, according to court documents.
During the bond hearing, prosecutors labeled the accusations as a “frightening factual scenario,” suggesting Weatherall poses a significant threat to the community. “The victim was simply trying to do his job and was stabbed 11 times,” stated a solicitor. “Following the stabbing, the defendant carjacked his vehicle.” The driver, unable to attend the hearing due to trauma, was represented by his wife, expressing community safety concerns.
Weatherall’s attorney argued that she was undergoing a severe mental health crisis at the time of the incident. It was noted that Weatherall, previously without criminal charges, was reportedly experiencing paranoia. Her lawyer said Weatherall felt she was being monitored and targeted, which led her to request a ride to report her fears to the police.
Her defense mentioned that paranoia had escalated, convincing Weatherall that she was being trafficked. This belief caused panic during the ride. Weatherall was described as having schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. Her attorney declared her now medicated and competent, requesting that she be released to undergo treatment with family support.
Weatherall’s mother apologized to the driver’s family, urging the court to consider her daughter’s mental health state. “She’s not a criminal. She would never hurt anyone,” her mother stated. Despite these pleas, the judge denied bond, ordering that Weatherall remain in custody until a scheduled psychological evaluation.
Lyft has responded by permanently removing the involved rider accounts and offering support to the driver and his family. A Lyft spokesperson emphasized that violence has no place in their community.