An Arizona woman is recovering from life-threatening injuries after police say her fiancé brutally attacked her inside their home, just weeks before the couple was supposed to get married. The woman reportedly suffered multiple stab wounds, serious facial injuries and damage to an artery in her neck.
The October 5 attack left Emily Byles hospitalized in critical condition and changed life dramatically for her and her two daughters. Investigators say the violence unfolded inside the couple’s bedroom, where an argument allegedly escalated into a terrifying assault involving scissors.
Zachary Velasquez, 31, is facing several criminal charges in connection with the incident, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The case came to police attention after Byles’ 11-year-old daughter heard screaming coming from her parents’ bedroom and called 911 because she feared something terrible was happening.
Daughter’s 911 call brought police to the home
According to the arrest affidavit, officers arrived at the residence after receiving the emergency call. They heard Byles shouting from inside the bedroom and eventually forced their way into the room.
What they found was a disturbing scene.
Police described Byles lying on her back, covered in blood, while holding scissors. Velasquez was reportedly standing nearby without a shirt, wearing red shorts, with blood visible on his hands.
Byles told responding officers that Velasquez was trying to kill her.
Her daughter’s decision to contact emergency services became a critical part of the response. The child had reportedly heard the disturbance and recognized that something was seriously wrong.
Byles later described her daughter’s actions as incredibly brave, particularly given how frightening the situation must have been for her.
Argument allegedly turned into a violent attack
Investigators say the events leading up to the assault involved an argument after Byles reportedly discovered photographs of other women on Velasquez’s phone.
However, the situation allegedly became increasingly disturbing as the argument continued.
According to the affidavit, Byles told police that Velasquez ordered her to lie down on the bedroom floor and go to sleep. He allegedly warned her that if she got up again, he would kill her.
The affidavit also states that Velasquez told her it was God’s plan for her to die.
Byles reportedly said she continued getting up, after which Velasquez allegedly attacked her with scissors.
She later described being struck repeatedly in the head and stabbed several times. The injuries were so serious that she required emergency medical treatment and surgery.
Speaking about the experience, Byles said she believed the attack was an attempt to take her life rather than simply hurt her.
She also described an overwhelming sensation during the assault, saying it felt almost like an out-of-body experience.
Serious neck injury required emergency surgery
One of the most concerning aspects of the attack was the damage to Byles’ vertebral artery, an important blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain.
According to the information shared about her injuries, the artery was cut during the stabbing and required surgical treatment.
Injuries involving major blood vessels in the neck can become life-threatening because of the risk of severe bleeding and complications affecting blood flow to the brain.
Byles also suffered multiple stab wounds and significant facial injuries. She later said she needed stitches while continuing to recover from the attack.
Her hospitalization and recovery have created additional challenges for the family, particularly because her daughters could not remain with her during the immediate aftermath.
Fiancé allegedly gave investigators a different account
During questioning, Velasquez reportedly acknowledged putting Byles in a chokehold and punching her. However, he claimed he had acted in self-defense.
According to the affidavit, Velasquez told investigators that he had become concerned Byles might harm herself and had started hiding knives and scissors around the home.
He alleged that Byles found one of the scissors and came toward him with it. Velasquez claimed he managed to turn the weapon around and stab her in the neck.
He further described a struggle in which both of them ended up on the floor fighting over the weapon.
Investigators also documented Byles’ account of the incident, which described Velasquez as the person who initiated the attack.
The two accounts differ significantly, and the allegations will be addressed through the criminal justice process.
Police records also indicate that Byles told investigators Velasquez had allegedly been using methamphetamine and had made disturbing statements about being a prophet who needed to kill her to save her.
Velasquez reportedly made additional claims about Byles’ alleged drug use, but those statements should be understood as part of his account rather than established findings.
Wedding plans replaced by an uncertain recovery
The attack reportedly happened approximately one month before the couple’s planned wedding.
Instead of preparing for the ceremony and building their future together, Byles is now facing a lengthy recovery while trying to restore stability for her daughters.
The family has also reportedly lost access to their home because of the condition in which it was left after the violent incident.
In a fundraising appeal, Byles explained that the amount of blood inside the residence made it impossible for the family to simply return and clean up.
She said she lost personal belongings and that she and her daughters were forced to stay in separate locations.
While Byles has been recovering at a friend’s home, her daughters have been staying with her sister in a safer location outside the area.
The separation has added another emotional burden to an already difficult situation.
Charges and previous criminal history
Velasquez is facing charges in Maricopa County that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct, intimidation and recklessly handling a weapon.
Court records referenced in the case also indicate that he has previous convictions involving armed robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery.
The charges connected to the October 5 incident are allegations, and Velasquez is entitled to the legal presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation has drawn attention to the seriousness of the reported violence and the importance of responding quickly when someone inside a home may be in danger.
Byles determined to move forward
Despite the physical injuries and emotional trauma, Byles has made clear that she wants accountability.
She has also expressed gratitude for her daughter’s decision to call 911, saying she cannot imagine what the young girl experienced while hearing the frightening events unfold.
For now, the focus remains on recovery, keeping her children safe and rebuilding a stable living situation.
What was supposed to be a period of excitement ahead of a wedding has instead become a difficult chapter for a mother and her daughters.
As the criminal case moves forward, Byles faces the challenge of healing from injuries that nearly cost her life while trying to give her children a sense of safety and normalcy again.
