# Arizona woman critically injured in alleged attack by fiancé before wedding

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/woman-looking-forward-to-her-wedding-distraught-after-fiance-attacked-her-with-pair-of-scissors-cops-say/
- Published: 2026-10-28T23:50:38+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T00:07:14+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16246741/Woman-looking-forward-wedding-distraught-fiance-attacked-pair-scissors-cops-say.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Arizona woman was critically injured in an alleged attack by her fiancé.
- Her 11-year-old daughter called 911 after hearing screams.
- The fiancé is in jail facing multiple charges.

## Summary

Arizona police say Emily Byles was stabbed and beaten by her fiancé, Zachary Velasquez, about a month before their planned wedding. The attack left her in critical condition and required surgery; the case also highlights how her 11-year-old daughter’s call to 911 brought officers to the scene.

According to court documents, the attack happened on 5 October, about a week after Byles moved to Glendale to live with Velasquez. Police allege he was on methamphetamine and told her he was a prophet and that it was God’s plan for her to die; her injuries included a deep neck wound that damaged a vertebral artery. Velasquez is in jail facing charges including aggravated assault, intimidation and disorderly conduct, while Byles is recovering from surgery and her daughters are staying with family.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.