A Bloomington woman is now facing a federal hate crime in connection with a stabbing of an Asian Indiana University student earlier this year.
A grand jury in Evansville indicted Billie Davis, 56, on allegations she caused bodily harm and attempted to kill the victim because of her perceived race and national origin, according to federal court records.
If convicted on the federal charge, Davis could serve a life sentence. Davis is also facing local charges stemming from the attack. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Davis is accused of stabbing the 18-year-old victim Jan. 11 on a Bloomington Transit bus downtown.
Read more: Bloomington woman charged with stabbing 18-year-old says attack racially motivated
Davis was sitting near the victim on the bus before she got up from her seat and stabbed her about seven times with a folding knife, according to a probable cause affidavit.
After the attack, Davis returned to her seat, got off the bus, and walked away. She discarded the knife before police found her.
She later told police she attacked the victim “due to her being Chinese” and said, “It would be one less person to blow up our country,” according to the affidavit.
Bus video surveillance showed there was no confrontation between Davis and the victim before the attack. Immediately after stabbing the victim, Davis did not acknowledge her or have any other contact with her.
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Davis was initially booked into the Monroe County Jail on suspicion of battery. It later became apparent the victim had stab wounds on her head and Davis' charges were upgraded to include attempted murder.
Local court records show she is charged with attempted murder, a level 1 felony; aggravated battery, a level 3 felony; and battery with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony.
Davis’ attorney, Kyle Dugger, is seeking an insanity defense.
The Associated Press reports Dugger expects the state-level charges will be dismissed and Davis will be transferred to federal custody.
Read more: Indiana's Asian American community is grieving after a bus stabbing attack
Dugger did not immediately respond to inquiries from WFIU/WTIU News.
Davis is scheduled to appear for a May 8 pre-trial conference and June 20 jury trial at Monroe Circuit Court.
As of Friday, a court date had not been set in the federal case.
Indiana is one of four states that lack a comprehensive hate crime law.
