Police said the Mother’s Day attack followed an argument over helping carry groceries.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A 29-year-old West Palm Beach man was arrested May 10 after police said he stabbed his 74-year-old grandmother 11 times during a Mother’s Day dispute over groceries.
Keo Lavar Nottage Jr. faces charges of attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the attack at a home in the 600 block of 52nd Street. The victim, identified in local reports as Mary Sigler, was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in critical condition. Police said the violence began after a younger cousin asked Nottage to help bring in groceries for a Mother’s Day dinner.
West Palm Beach police said the call came in around 1:26 p.m. from a relative who reported that Nottage had stabbed his grandmother. When officers arrived, they found Nottage and his cousin in a physical struggle outside the home, according to reports citing the arrest affidavit. Officers detained both men while they secured the scene. Sigler had been badly wounded and was rushed to the hospital as a trauma patient. Emergency radio traffic described multiple wounds to her torso, left shoulder and arm. Medical staff later reported 11 stab wounds, according to court documents described by local outlets.
The dispute began after Sigler and Nottage’s 16-year-old cousin returned from a grocery trip to prepare a Mother’s Day meal, police said. The cousin asked Nottage, who was inside the home, to help carry grocery bags. The request led to an argument. Police said Sigler told investigators that Nottage became increasingly agitated while arguing with the teen and said, “Someone is going to die today.” Investigators said Nottage then went into the kitchen, grabbed a knife and attacked Sigler. The affidavit said the grandmother first described being stabbed five or six times before hospital staff counted 11 wounds.
The cousin told police he left the home during the argument to call a family friend for help calming the situation. While outside, he heard someone scream for help and went back in through a rear door, according to the affidavit. He told investigators he saw Nottage holding a knife and saw Sigler on the floor. The teen said he feared for his life, ran outside, jumped a fence and called police. Surveillance footage from cameras around the home captured parts of the aftermath, including the cousin yelling, “You stabbed my grandma,” according to reports on the court documents.
Police said Nottage also chased the cousin with the knife after the stabbing. The affidavit said Nottage waved the kitchen knife and made threats as the teen tried to get away. In one account from the court record, Nottage asked the teen whether he wanted to fight. The cousin later confronted Nottage again as Nottage tried to leave the property, and the two were still fighting when officers arrived. The cousin suffered a hand injury during the struggle. Nottage also sustained a hand injury and was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center for treatment before he was questioned by police.
Detectives said they reviewed surveillance video from two cameras at the residence and found that the footage supported witness accounts. After receiving medical treatment, Nottage was taken to the police station and read his Miranda rights. Reports citing the arrest affidavit said he acknowledged that he understood his rights but did not give a detailed statement about what happened, other than saying that “blood was involved.” Police said they found enough evidence to arrest him. The case was assigned to the West Palm Beach Police Department’s violent crimes unit, with Detective Lopez listed in local reports as the investigator handling the case.
Sigler remained hospitalized after emergency surgery, according to early reports. Investigators said at first that they were unsure whether she would survive. A witness later told a local reporter that he had been in contact with Sigler and that she was recovering after surgery. Police and hospital officials had not released a full medical update or a final description of her injuries beyond the stab wound count and critical condition reports. No public report said whether Sigler had returned home or whether she would need more surgery.
Local reporting also pointed to prior police contact at the home. One report said court records showed police had responded to the residence before for incidents involving Nottage. In a 2021 case, Sigler reportedly told investigators that Nottage had mental health struggles and had previously been taken for involuntary mental health evaluation under Florida law. Police have not said mental health was a confirmed factor in the May 10 stabbing. The earlier record was not listed as a charge in the new case, and investigators have not released a full history of calls to the address.
Nottage made an initial court appearance after his arrest. Reports said deputies removed him from the courtroom after several interruptions during the hearing. Early public accounts differed on his custody status, with some saying he was being held without bond pending an Arthur hearing and another citing online court records that listed bail. Reports also gave upcoming dates including a June 9 return appearance and a July 2 case conference. Court records were expected to clarify the next steps as prosecutors reviewed the charges.
The charges remain allegations. Prosecutors can amend charges as more evidence is reviewed, including hospital records, witness statements, surveillance footage and any police interviews. Attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon is among the most serious charges filed in Florida assault cases, and an Arthur hearing can be used in some serious felony cases to decide whether a defendant may be released before trial. No public report had identified a defense attorney for Nottage or said whether he had entered a plea beyond the first appearance process.
As of May 14, Nottage had been arrested, Sigler had undergone surgery and the investigation remained active. The next public milestone is expected in court, where custody status, charging details and hearing dates are set to be addressed.
Author note: Last updated May 14, 2026.