Suspect in fatal stabbing of 17-year-old girl near Galleria was out of jail on bond, records show
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A woman accused of stabbing a 17-year-old girl to death during a robbery outside the Galleria mall over the weekend was out of jail on bond, according to court records.
Kayla Nicole Stevenson's family said the teen was a new mom and was working two jobs.
Kaysone Sky Blossom, 37, is charged with capital murder in Kayla's death.
PREVIOUS REPORT: Suspect arrested days after 17-year-old stabbed to death during robbery near Galleria mall, HPD says
According to charging documents, this is not the suspect's first run-in with the law.
Blossom was reportedly out on bond for an aggravated assault of a family member charge from 2021. She allegedly cut her ex-boyfriend with a knife. That case has yet to go to trial nearly three years later.
The Harris County DA's office says Blossom first shot the ex-boyfriend with tear gas bullets before stabbing him. According to court documents, Blossom also had a Taser, handcuffs, duct tape, and another knife in her purse during the alleged assault.
She was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.
A personal recognizance bond means she was free to go and didn't need to pay any money unless she failed to appear or violated bond.
Records show 14 of Blossom's court dates were reset. Eyewitness News also knew her trial date was reset five times.
She was scheduled to appear in court for her capital murder charge on Thursday morning, but she did not appear due to a medical hold.
"I feel that it could have been avoided if she wasn't out on the streets so if she was behind bars like she was supposed to be, then my daughter will still be with me here today and her daughter," Kylie Stevenson, Kayla's mom, said.
ABC13 asked the DA's office what the holdup was and they listed a number of factors including the pandemic and an attorney change.
The DA says at this point, to get this to trial, they need a mental competency report from an expert.
ABC13 also learned that during the three years, Blossom was out on bond and was self-publishing children's books.
Kayla's mom didn't know that until ABC13 told her.
"That is a lot to take in," Kylie Stevenson said.
We've heard city officials blame court backlogs for high crime rates stating some of these criminals are released and re-offend.
Both of Blossom's cases are in the 230th District Court now. The aggravated assault from February 2021 was originally in the 248th.
The 248th has just over 1,280 cases pending, 22% are more than a year old. That is lower than the countywide average, which is 25%.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Woman wanted after 17-year-old stabbed to death near Galleria Mall, police say
The fatal stabbing happened on Saturday morning near Saks Fifth Avenue on West Alabama Street at Sage Road.
Police said Kayla was walking to work when she was allegedly robbed by Blossom, who investigators say stabbed the teen and left her to die.
Blossom allegedly robbed Kayla of her purse, which contained her wallet, phone, and keys. Kayla's mother told ABC13 that her daughter's bank card was already being used by the time she tried to have it locked.
SEE ALSO: 17-year-old's bank card used after she was stabbed to death in the Galleria area, mom says
Early in the investigation, police reported getting a tip from someone in the area about two women fighting over a handbag.
HPD said tips from the community helped investigators identify Blossom, who was arrested without incident at her home on Beechnut Street on Wednesday.
Kayla's family said she leaves behind a 6-month-old baby.
Her mother had a message for the suspect.
"I hope it eats away at you and you definitely pay severely for your crime, for this crime that you did," Kylie Stevenson, the victim's mother, said.
