Army releases name of Fayetteville stabbing victim

Fayetteville, N.C. — U.S. Army Special Operations officials said Thursday a woman stabbed to death in Fayetteville this week was a soldier assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) .

Sgt. Christina E. Smith, 29, was a graphics illustrator in Company A, 5th Battalion, officials said.

Smith was stabbed in the neck while she was walking with her husband, Sgt. Richard D. Smith, near their house on Baxter Street Tuesday night, police said. She died on the way to a local hospital.

Richard Smith was treated at the hospital for minor injuries. Police would not discuss the nature of his wounds.

Police have not named any suspects.

“The husband stated that he somehow turned back around and his wife was being attacked,” Fayetteville Police Department spokeswoman Theresa Chance said.

Richard Smith, a videographer for Psychological Operations, told detectives he ran toward the person stabbing his wife and the person ran away. He said he then ran to a neighbor's house for help.

The Fayetteville Police Department is heading the investigation. Army’s Criminal Investigations Division is assisting in the investigation, Chance said.

Christina Smith, a graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati Ohio, earned awards including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Korea Defense Service Medal.

Christina Smith arrived at Fort Bragg in April 2006. Her husband came to the base in February that year. An Army spokesperson on Thursday said Richard Smith has served in Iraq but has been home for more than a year.

She is survived by her husband, and her parents, Katherine and Steven Loehrke of Mount Orab, Ohio.