LEWISVILLE, Texas - A Lewisville woman is facing seven felony and misdemeanor charges after police say she spent nearly 12 hours violently assaulting her mother while under the influence of cocaine before attacking officers during her arrest.
The following is based on the arrest affidavits provided by the Lewisville Police Department.
Lewisville police responded at approximately 9:33 p.m. on July 18 to the Ballantyne Apartments in the 2800 block of Denton Tap Road after receiving a report of an assault involving a weapon. A caller reported hearing screams coming from an apartment before everything suddenly went silent.
Another caller, identified as 51-year-old Vanessa Pannell, told dispatchers she had received a text message from her wife, 47-year-old Deidra Nicole Pannell, stating their daughter had come at her with a knife. Vanessa also told police her daughter, Jorja Blaine Pannell-Miller, had a history of drug use and a health condition that affected her reactions (it was redacted in the report). She had also reportedly ingested cocaine earlier that day.
When officers arrived, they contacted Deidra in the hallway outside the apartment while other officers spoke with Jorja inside.
According to police, Deidra told officers Jorja had been high on cocaine and had repeatedly assaulted her throughout the day. Officers observed visible injuries on Deidra, including wounds and a torn shirt collar.
Police said Jorja was immediately detained due to her erratic behavior. Officers noted she was sweating heavily, was not wearing pants or underwear, appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, and repeatedly screamed false accusations that officers had threatened to touch her inappropriately.
While officers attempted to transport her to a patrol vehicle, Jorja escaped from her handcuffs and began fighting with officers. Police said she fell to the ground, kicked at officers and struck one officer in the groin before she was restrained, placed back in handcuffs and secured in a restraint wrap.
Investigators later determined the violence began around 10 a.m. after Deidra discovered Jorja ingesting cocaine and possibly MDMA, commonly known as "Molly." When Deidra attempted to flush the drugs down the toilet, police say Jorja attacked her by punching and scratching her before holding her against a wall to prevent her from leaving the apartment.
According to the investigation, Deidra later attempted to take her daughter to a nearby emergency room for treatment, but Jorja refused to enter the hospital and demanded to be driven home. While returning home, Jorja allegedly grabbed the steering wheel, nearly causing a crash.
Back at the apartment complex, Jorja chased Deidra outside and assaulted her again before later telling her she "deserved to die" while holding a kitchen knife.
Police said Jorja eventually placed the knife in the kitchen sink but became violent again when Deidra refused to hand over her cellphone. The two struggled and wrestled on the ground until Deidra was able to calm her daughter. When Deidra later attempted to help Jorja into a bathtub, another violent confrontation erupted. That's when Deidra called her wife Vanessa, which prompting Vanessa to call 911.
Investigators recovered the kitchen knife from the sink as evidence.
An officer noted in the arrest report that Deidra appeared reluctant to fully describe everything that had occurred because she did not want her daughter to be jailed. Investigators believe additional acts of violence may have occurred that were never disclosed.
Jorja Blaine Pannell-Miller was booked into the Lewisville Jail on the following charges:
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Continuous Violence Against the Family
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Aggravated Assault of a Family Member with a Deadly Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury
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Unlawful Restraint
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Escape from Custody
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Resisting Arrest
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Two counts of Assault on a Peace Officer
Her bond was set at $75,500. Jail records show she posted bond on July 28 and was released pending future court proceedings.
