KCK family hopes to move forward after stabbing suspect sentenced

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Kansas family wants to move forward now that their daughter’s attacker will spend more than a decade in prison.

The 14-month ordeal is finally over for Stephanie Perez, the 47-year-old who was viciously attacked with a knife while walking home from her volunteer shift in July 2023. She lives with her parents in Kansas City as 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 aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer were dropped in August when he took a plea deal.

Stephanie’s mother, Laura Villegas, said this to FOX 4 when those discussions were happening . “Just keep him in there. Don’t let him out so he will never hurt anybody again.”

On Wednesday, a judge sentenced McGriff to a little more than 13 years in prison . He got 123 months for his second-degree murder charge and 43 months for aggravated battery. Those sentences will run consecutively.

McGriff stabbed his father to death at a senior living facility on July, 18, 2023. He attacked Stephanie less than an hour later while she was walking home from her volunteer shift at a food pantry.

He used a six-inch knife when he attacked her from behind. The attack left her with permanent damage in her left hand and scarring to 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 didn’t look at the family. When giving a family impact statement, mom Laura said, “The assault caused lifetime damage to [Stephanie’s] left hand in which she won’t be able to recover. She has trauma and fear in her life every day.”

Perez has undergone several surgeries since the attack. She has one more planned on her left hand this November in which doctors are hopeful she’ll be able to get some function back.

The case against McGriff had been suspended since August 2023 pending the outcome of a mental evaluation. In October, the court appointed a psychiatrist to evaluate McGriff, who ultimately found him competent to stand trial.

Then, in November, McGriff’s attorney entered a motion requesting another mental examination to “determine if, as a result of mental disease or defect, [McGriff] lacked the mental state required as an element of the offense charged.” The case stayed quiet for about six months until May 2024 when McGriff’s attorney notified the court that he no longer wanted to rely on a lack of mental state defense, allowing the case to proceed as McGriff was found competent to stand trial.

Court records from September 25 show McGriff was awarded prison credit starting in July 2023 when he was arrested. His prison sentence started immediately after Wednesday’s sentencing.

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