Suspect in random knife attack on pregnant woman pleads not guilty – NBC 7 San Diego

A man accused of stabbing a 25-year-old pregnant woman multiple times at a drive-thru ATM in the Mira Mesa neighborhood over the weekend was charged Thursday in San Diego County court.

Cole Klemke, 27, a former baseball player at Torrey Pines High School and the University of Nebraska, pleaded not guilty to attempted premeditated murder with a special charge of aggravated assault and robbery with the same special charges, as well as assault in connection with the apparently random stabbing.

Investigators with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said Klemke approached the woman at the ATM at the Target mall shortly before 10 a.m. Saturday. He then stabbed her before pushing her to the ground and hitting her two more times, police said. The motive for the attack is still unclear.

During the arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Spencer Sharpe described another attempted assault on June 1 to argue that Klemke should be held without bail. In that incident, the prosecutor said, Klemke approached a car, pulled out a knife and carved an “X” into it while ordering the driver to get out. The driver fled.

“Now we have two random acts of violence,” Sharpe said, adding, “If Klemke is not arrested, he will commit another crime.”

In connection with this case, Klemke was also charged with vandalism and use of a weapon.

The judge agreed to keep Klemke in custody without bail.

The identity of Saturday’s victim was not released, but she was reportedly four months pregnant at the time of the attack. She tried to defend herself by kicking the suspect, police said. She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where she was treated for deep cuts to her neck, left shoulder and chin. She was released the same day.

“Fortunately, her carotid artery was not severed, so it could have been a much worse seizure if she hadn’t been so resilient,” said SDPD Sergeant Eric Diggins.

Detective Sgt. Erich Drilling said the attack was quick and brutal, and the suspect fled the scene after passersby came to the victim’s aid.

The suspect was seen on Target’s security cameras exiting the building shortly before the attack. Police were able to track down the suspect using the footage and several tips from community members who were able to help identify the man based on the photos released.

Detective Sgt. Erich Drilling told NBC 7 the video was gruesome and difficult to watch. It was clear the victim did not know her attacker was behind her. He made no statements or demands before or during the attack and no property was taken, police said.

Klemke, a Carmel Valley resident, was known to police and was last contacted by authorities a week before the attack. Court documents show he has a history of drug and mental health problems.

The suspect’s mother, Brenda Klemke, filed a petition for a domestic violence restraining order in August 2020. In that document, she ordered Cole to stay away from all family members as well as the family’s Carmel Valley home.

“Cole continues to bring and use methamphetamines in our home,” Brenda wrote. “This results in him being disruptive, argumentative, and verbally abusive at home. He has been told he can stay here as long as he is no longer violent and does not bring or use drugs. He is currently refusing treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders.”

Also in the document: Klemke’s mother claimed her son verbally abused her and that “Cole took a pen, put it to my husband’s throat and threatened to cut off his head.”

However, a Supreme Court judge dismissed the case.

San Diego police said they had charged Klemke with additional offenses, but no prosecutions had been filed.

Klemke’s next court date is July 1.

The attack occurred in daylight, police said.