A woman stabbed in the stomach in China this month was released from the hospital Friday as two women charged with aggravated attempted murder appeared in Augusta District Court via video link from the Kennebec County jail.

Carissa Butkewicz, 23, and Tiffany Glidden, 20, of Waterville, allegedly lured Kathryn Hopkins, 24, to Fire Road 17 in China on Nov. 4 by sending a text asking her to meet them there, according to a Maine State Police affidavit filed Friday in Kennebec County Superior Court and Augusta District Court.

When Hopkins arrived, Butkewicz got into the passenger seat of Hopkins’ car while Glidden hid behind a tree, said the affidavit signed by Trooper Elisha Fowlie.

Butkewicz allegedly stabbed Hopkins in the stomach with a kitchen knife. Butkewicz got out of the car and Glidden emerged from hiding and started smashing the car’s windshield with a baseball bat.

Glidden told police that when she asked Butkewicz where the knife was, Butkewicz replied that it was in Hopkins’ stomach.

Hopkins, 24, who suffered life-threatening injuries, drove about a half-mile to a house, where a resident called 911.

An ambulance took her to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, where she told staff and police that Butkewicz stabbed her, according to the affidavit.

She was released from the hospital Friday, a spokesman said.

Glidden later told a detective that she and Butkewicz planned the stabbing, the affidavit said.

Police sought Butkewicz and Glidden for questioning and Glidden turned herself in at the Waterville Police Department the day after the stabbing.

In addition to being charged Thursday with aggravated attempted murder, both Butkewicz and Glidden were charged Friday with elevated aggravated assault.

District Court Judge Charles Dow set bail at $50,000 cash for each woman with conditions that prohibit them from contact with Hopkins, as well as from each other.

Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said Friday that Hopkins, Butkewicz and Glidden knew each other, but she could not discuss motive because the case is open and hasn’t yet gone to trial.

For the state to proceed on a felony case, a grand jury would have to decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial, according to Maloney.

“However, the grand jury is not a public process so dates aren’t set in court,” she said.

A status conference for the women has been set for Jan. 13 in Kennebec County Superior Court, she said.

In court Friday, attorneys representing Butkewicz and Glidden as lawyers of the day agreed they would not argue bail until the court has appointed attorneys in the case.

Attorney Stephen Bourget represented Butkewicz, who was also being held on a charge of violating probation, Bourget told Dow. Glidden was represented by attorney Lisa Whittier.

The prosecutor was Assistant District Attorney Carie James.

Staff Writer Betty Adams contributed to this report.

Amy Calder can be contacted at 861-9247 or at:

acalder@centralmaine.com

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