A customer holds an axe at Bury the Hatchet in Bloomfield, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
In Fargo, North Dakota, police say a 23-year-old woman launched one of the city’s most shocking crimes in recent memory. Prosecutors allege she crept up on her boyfriend as he slept and swung a hatchet down on him with such force that a witness later said it sounded “like splitting wood.” The man survived but suffered a deep head wound and severe injuries to his hand. The suspect, Lena Deoliveira, fled the scene but was arrested two days later.
“Like Splitting Wood”
Door handles are create with axes at Gilgamesh Brewing’s The Woods is open in West Salem on Aug. 26, 2019. Gilgameshbrewingthewoods Ar 12
Authorities in Fargo, North Dakota, say a 23-year-old woman launched a violent attack on her boyfriend earlier this month, swinging a hatchet at him while he slept. The case has rattled the community, not only because of the nature of the assault but because it unfolded in front of a witness who later told police it sounded “like splitting wood.”
Unimaginable Violence
Brockton Police investigate a shooting outside George’s Cafe in Brockton on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
According to court records, another man was staying in the detached garage where the couple had been living. He told investigators he watched as Lena Deoliveira struck her boyfriend, Jonathan Granados, with the hatchet. At first, he thought she had hit the headboard or mattress, but he quickly realized she had struck Granados himself. The witness described seeing blood and noticing that several of Granados’s fingers were either missing or “kind of hanging.”
The Victim’s Injuries
Granados, who awoke screaming, managed to call 911 once Deoliveira fled the scene. Officers who arrived found him alone and injured, with a blood trail leading out of the garage. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed surgery on his hands. According to charging documents, he suffered a deep laceration to his head in addition to severe damage to his fingers.
Arrest and Charges
Police say Deoliveira appeared disoriented during the attack and fled immediately after. Two days later, officers arrested her in nearby Moorhead, Minnesota, just a mile away from the scene. She declined to speak with investigators after her arrest. She is now facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault, with her bond set at $500,000.
What Comes Next
Deoliveira’s next court date is scheduled for October 16. Prosecutors say they’ll be going after an attempted murder charge due to the extent of Granado’s injuries.
