Jacob Couch, a 32-year-old Alabama father of two, has died from a brazen broad-daylight attack that left him “almost decapitated” at a Tucson bus stop as he waited with his wife on April 5th.
While Couch and his wife Kristen awaited their bus they were approached by 25-year-old Daniel Michael who confronted them. Couch tragically succumbed to his injuries on Thursday evening according to his family after spending almost two weeks on life support.
Subsequently, Michael now faces charges for First Degree Murder. According to reporting from AZ Central, the couple was in Tucson enroute back to Alabama after staying in Los Angeles. While they waited for their boss they reportedly took in the sights of downtown Tucson when they encountered Michael, armed with a machete or hatchet. Reporting from 13 News KOLD stated that the assailant approached the couple and began yelling at them when Jacob appeared to answer and reach down for the couple’s belongings. It was at this point, Michael struck. Jacob’s Sister-In-Law Erica Sims told the outlet, “The injury cut the artery in the back of his neck in half it went so deep that it hit his skull.”
Couch’s younger brother Luke told reporters that “He’s not expected to make it right now,” days after the attack. He added, “We’ve just been taking it how we can.” The New York Post revealed Wednesday that Couch’s family fear he won’t survive his injuries, after physicians diagnosed him with an anoxic brain injury due to severe blood loss depriving his brain of oxygen for an extended period of time.
Kristen and Jacob had lived in Los Angeles for almost a year after the tragic stillbirth of their son in May of last year. They were on their way home to their two daughters aged 13 and 15 when they were attacked. “We were coming home because we just couldn’t get it together, like we just needed our family,” Kristen told reporters.
Their attacker was identified by Police as Daniel Michael based on security footage and the suspect was arrested three days later. Under questioning Michael denied knowledge of the attack, however, a search of his home revealed the weapon and clothing worn by the assailant during the brutal attack. Michael told police he was drinking and didn’t remember any encounter with the couple.
Speaking with KOLD Luke said Michael was “looking for trouble,” he said “If you’re going downtown when you’re drunk carrying a large machete like that, you have no other intentions other than to cause harm to somebody. He went down there looking for trouble and it just so happens to be my brother who is not going to make it home from this.”
Per AZ Central Michael was booked into the Pima County Jail on a $1 million bond and is facing two counts of aggravated assault, court documents stated. These charges were updated to first degree murder upon Couch’s death Thursday. Kristen told KGUN that the support she’s received from the Tucson community has been incredible. “Everyone helping us has overshadowed what that man’s done. He does not define our experience here. The community has come together and helped us so much. I mean, they’re embarrassed of what happened here,” she said.
Providing an update on her husband’s condition she told reporters, “When we were talking to him the other day, like, he started crying. Not just tears but like, the facial motions. Like he was trying to open his eyes and stuff,” adding that she’s been at his side each day, encouraging him to keep fighting ,“That he’s stronger than he thinks he is and that we’re all here and we’re all going to be here when he comes back.” In a post to Facebook Luke called upon the public to pray for his brother, writing “Please say a prayer for our family. God knows we need it right now. Life is so precious. Tell your family you love them every chance you get.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with travel, hospitalization and funeral expenses for Jacob, Erica Sims said. “Since they are so far away and were on their way home, they have no family with them,” she explained. As of this report, it has raised approximately $57,000.