Tecumseh Domestic Abuse Victim Hopes Her Story Will Save Others

A woman survived a stabbing and repeated domestic abuse. Now she wants other women to hear her story hoping it will save them from the pain.

Paula Cox endured years of physical abuse inside her own home. She described monthly beatings at the hands of her husband. But it was not until a month ago that Paula finally left her husband after he stabbed her.

"It was my lift that I almost lost," said Paula. "When he quit hitting me, I turned around and I'm just standing there with my arms down and pulls his stiletto knife out, clicks it open."

Paula had just confronted her husband, Jimmie. Paula was suspicious that her husband was abusing prescription pills. That's when a verbal argument turned physical. She said Jimmie beat her across their yard the pulled out the knife and stabbed her on her left side on her rib cage.

Court documents show that Jimmie Cox left the scene of the stabbing, and Paula drove herself to the hospital.

"The doctors told me that because I broke my ribs so many times, it had made it a solid mass and that's the only reason that I'm still alive today," Paula recalled. "He knew exactly what he was doing. He meant to kill me and I didn't die and now I've been victimized over and over again.

According to the court documents, Jimmie Cox fled the scene once Paula got on the phone with police. The probable cause affidavit also shows Paula had bruise marks to the back of her head and behind her ears.

Authorities granted a protection order against Paula's husband after the incident but knowing he bonded out of jail, she fears another attack. She said she won't even stay in her own home.

"Get out while you've got the chance," she said.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and need help you can call the Oklahoma Coalition against Domestic Violence at (800)-522-7233.