Cops: Woman used pan, knife in attack

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque woman was charged with aggravated battery and assault Monday after she told investigators she'd stabbed a man she met online who tried to rape her.

According to Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department investigators, however, it turns out that Tasia Paz was lying to deputies about why she stabbed Benjamin Heartleigh.

Sgt. Mark Kmatz said when deputies got to Paz's home on Franzen SW around midnight she screamed, "I stabbed him."

Deputies found Heartleigh outside the home, half-clothed, with stab wounds to his leg, back and backside.

They took Paz's word and searched her home. But they later questioned her again after they searched her home a second time and found Ivan Charley, who was bleeding from a gash on his head.

Deputies said they believe Charley sneaked back into the home through the back door or window. Charley claimed he couldn't remember what happened.

But when investigators pressed Paz again they said she admitted Charley was her boyfriend and that they'd picked up Heartleigh so they could drink together.

A source close to the investigation told KRQE News 13 that Heartleigh began talking to them about the sexual relations he'd had with Paz's boyfriend while they were in jail together.

According to the source, Charley became angry, and the men then got into a fight. Paz claimed she attacked Heartleigh in self-defense, first with a skillet and then with a knife. When the knife broke, she grabbed another one, she allegedly told officers.

Paz said she did it to protect her boyfriend, but she's now in jail on a charge of aggravated battery and assault.

"The key to the whole thing is going to be Ben Hartley," Kmatz said. "He's conscious, responsive.

"Problem is, he's intubated. He's still has the big tube down his throat, so until they can remove that and he can speak with us, we may not know the rest of the pieces."

Charley had a warrant out for his arrest on a probation violation, according to investigators. They believe Paz may have been trying to keep him out of even more trouble.

Charley won't face any charges for the attack, but Heartleigh could after investigators question him once he's recovered.

Heartleigh is at the University of New Mexico Hospital and is expected to recover.