The KCK family hopes to move on after the suspect’s conviction in the stabbing

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Kansas family wants to move on after their daughter’s attacker spends more than a decade in prison.

The 14-month ordeal is finally over for Stephanie Perez, the 47-year-old who was brutally attacked with a knife on her way home from her volunteer shift in July 2023. She lives with her parents in Kansas City because she has special needs.

One of the four charges her attacker, 33-year-old John McGriff, initially faced was mistreatment of a dependent adult. However, that charge and the aggravated assault charge against a police officer were dropped in August when he took a plea deal.

Stephanie’s mother, Laura Villegas, said this to FOX 4 when these discussions were taking place. “Just leave him in there. Don’t let him out so he never hurts anyone again.”

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On Wednesday, A judge sentenced McGriff to just over 13 years in prison. He received 123 months for second-degree murder and 43 months for aggravated assault. These sentences are executed one after the other.

On July 18, 2023, McGriff stabbed his father to death in a senior living facility. Less than an hour later, he attacked Stephanie as she walked home from her volunteer shift at a food bank.

He used a 15cm knife when he attacked her from behind. The attack left permanent damage to her left hand and scars on her face and neck. A reason for the attack was never revealed.

Perez’s family said McGriff apologized for what he did during Wednesday’s sentencing but did not look at the family. Mother Laura said in her family impact statement: “The attack has caused (Stephanie’s) lifelong damage to her left hand from which she will not be able to recover. “She has trauma and fear in her life every day.”

Perez has had to undergo several surgeries since the attack. Another operation on her left hand is planned for this November, during which doctors hope she can regain function.

The case against McGriff had been suspended since August 2023, pending the results of a psychological evaluation. In October, the court appointed a psychiatrist to examine McGriff, who ultimately found him fit to stand trial.

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Then, in November, McGriff’s attorney filed a motion requesting a new mental evaluation to “determine whether (McGriff) was, by reason of a mental illness or defect, not in the state of mind required as an element of the offense charged.” The case remained silent for approximately six months until McGriff’s attorney informed the court in May 2024 that he no longer wished to rely on a lack of mental defense, allowing the case to proceed because McGriff was found competent to stand trial.

Court records dated Sept. 25 show McGriff received prison sentences beginning in July 2023, when he was arrested. His prison sentence began immediately after the verdict was announced on Wednesday.

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