Parents of stabbing suspect say his mental health has been downward spiral

GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY, Wash. — The parents of a Hoquiam man accused of stabbing a woman while telling her he was the devil said his mental health has been in a downward spiral for years.  Leonard Hougham, father of Darion Greenwood, said he has warned repeatedly that Greenwood might hurt someone.

“Didn’t know who, didn’t know when, but yes,” said Leonard Hougham.

Greenwood, 19, was charged with attempted murder in the first degree after he was accused of luring Maleta Chhoum to what she thought was a meeting with her young son outside Hoquiam on July 8. Grays Harbor County sheriff’s investigators said Greenwood attacked and beat the 22-year-old. After she fled the car  he chased her and stabbed her repeatedly. An eyewitness said Greenwood told Chhoum he was the devil and he was going to kill her.

Chhoum escaped when a friend with her called for help and told Greenwood police were on the way. She remains in critical condition with multiple stab wounds at Harborview Medical Center.

Leonard Hougham and Dawn Hougham said Greenwood hears voices and is bipolar. “He believed at one point (that the) electricity in his grandma’s house was killing him and they had to turn off all the breakers in the house,” said Leonard Hougham.

His mother said her son has struggled with voices and often talks to himself for hours. “Last time I saw Darion he was holding his head and crying, just wanting these voices to stop,” said Dawn Hougham. “I gave him a hug and he said, 'there’s no fixing crazy, Mom.'”

Greenwood is on probation for a burglary at his parent’s home. The couple said they asked his probation officer for help but said he refused. “'You know, it’s not my job, why do you keep calling me and bugging me?' That’s the response I got,” said Greenwood's father, Leonard Hougham.

Greenwood is on probation following a burglary conviction last year.

KIRO 7 contacted the Washington State Department of Corrections to ask about the Houghams' claims.  A review of probation procedures has been opened.

DOC spokeswoman Norah West emailed KIRO 7 following an inquiry into Hougham’s claim.

“We’re currently conducting a Critical Incident Review, as we do with any incident like this in our agency, so we wouldn’t be able to speak to the specifics of Greenwood’s supervision at this time," said West.

Greenwood remains in the Grays Harbor County Jail with his bail set at $1 million.

KIRO