Schoolgirl who was knifed to death in attack at home that also left her mother hurt ‘had been looking forward to her 18th birthday’, grandparents say – as man is quizzed over murder

A ‘cute’ teenage girl was murdered in her own bedroom in a horrific knife attack that left her mother seriously injured.

Lainie Williams, 17, was found fatally injured at her home in Cefn Fforest, near Blackwood, South Wales, at around 7am on Thursday; His mother, 38-year-old Rhian Stephens, was airlifted to the hospital for treatment.

Armed police later arrested an 18-year-old man near Newbridge on suspicion of murder and attempted murder; detectives confirmed they were not looking for anyone else.

The attacker is said to have been waiting for Rhian’s boyfriend to leave the house for work before entering the house through the open door.

Relatives said the man with the knife stabbed the mother and then ran into the bedroom where Lainie was sleeping.

Lainie, a university student who was looking forward to her upcoming 18th birthday, died at the scene, while her mother was treated in hospital for serious stab wounds.

Lainie’s great-grandmother Florence Jones, 78, said: ‘Her mother said Lainie put up a great fight against her.

‘I’m in total shock, she was such a sweet, bubbly girl. He’s been living with me for the last few years, I can’t believe what’s happening. ‘Such things don’t happen in our family.’

Lainie’s great-grandmother Florence Jones, 78, described the schoolgirl as a ‘lovely, cheerful girl’. Picture: Lainie, a college student looking forward to her upcoming 18th birthday

Rhian Stephens, 38, was taken to hospital for treatment following the attack

The alleged attacker was seen shirtless outside the home at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday.

She waited for Rhian’s boyfriend, Clive Osborne, to get to work at 7am, then walked through the open door and headed upstairs to where Lainie was sleeping.

Her grandfather Robert Stephens said: ‘He attacked Lainie with a knife and her mother heard her screams.

‘Lainie’s brother Carter came out of his room and Rhian told him to go back inside and hide under the bed.’

Armed police were called to the family’s three-bedroom former council house in the village of Cefn Fforest, while paramedics arrived by air ambulance but were unable to save Lainie.

Rhian’s mother, Ceri, was at little Carter’s bedside in hospital tonight as his father cared for him.

Neighbors said they woke up to the sound of sirens, helicopters and slamming doors, and described Lainie as ‘the loveliest person’.

Local Michelle Davies said: ‘Terrible. That poor girl had everything to live for and now she’s gone.

‘At least the mother survived, but she will never forget what she witnessed.’

Rhian, a mother of two, had been living in a semi-detached house for at least five months.

He has been described as ‘a caring but keeping to himself person’.

Another neighbor added: ‘Lainie was the loveliest, kindest person with so many friends. The girls are in pieces.”

One resident said they woke up to the sound of a helicopter landing near his home before seeing ‘chaos’ outside.

He said: ‘It’s generally a very quiet area, you don’t expect something like this to happen on your doorstep.’

Police were at the scene at Wheatley Place in the Cefn Fforest area of ​​Blackwood, Gwent, on Thursday morning.

Detective Superintendent Philip O’Connell, Gwent Police’s senior investigating officer, confirmed police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

He said: ‘We recognize that such reports can be worrying and residents are likely to see increased numbers of police officers in the area whilst we investigate further.

‘If anyone has any information please speak to our officers or contact us as usual.’

Cefn Fforest Councilor Shane Williams said: ‘We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the events that transpired and I understand the police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the matter.

However, as councilors we want to do our best to reassure everyone and our thoughts are with the family at this time.

‘We all hope that the woman who was hospitalized makes a full recovery. Something like this is quite unusual in this area and I can understand if many residents are now scared.

‘It’s pretty terrible that a young girl lost her life like that.’

Independent Councilor Kevin Ethridge added: ‘As the local borough councilor for Blackwood, I would like to offer my condolences to the family.’