Crime & Safety
Moss Beach Attempted Murder Suspect Misses Arraignment in County Superior Court
David John Vanalstine missed his arraignment for the second time in County Superior Court yesterday due to a medical condition that has kept him hospitalized.
Bay City News -- A man who allegedly attempted to kill his girlfriend inside a mobile home they shared in Moss Beach failed to appear at his arraignment in San Mateo County Superior Court for the second time today.
David John Vanalstine, 56, has been hospitalized and unable to appear since sheriff's deputies arrested him Dec. 2 on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and other offenses at the Pillar Ridge mobile home park, according to the district attorney's office.
The defendant's medical condition is unrelated to his arrest and to the alleged fight he had with his girlfriend last week, sheriff's spokesman Lt. Ray Lunny said.
At 4:43 p.m., deputies responded to a call from a 55-year-old woman at the park who said she was being stabbed by her boyfriend, according to the sheriff's office.
The woman, who had apparently been living with Vanalstine for three years, had arrived home from work when he came out of his room and pinned her down on the couch.
Vanalstine allegedly held the victim's head in place by her hair and began sawing at her neck with a serrated knife.
He stopped when someone came over, and the victim was able to grab a phone, run outside, and call 911 for help.
Responding deputies found her on the ground outside with a 4-inch gash from her neck to her ear, bleeding profusely.
The victim, suffering life-threatening injuries, was taken to Stanford University Medical Center, where she underwent surgery and is now expected to recover.
The district attorney's office reported that Vanalstine and his girlfriend had recently had a fight because she reported him for drunken driving.
On Nov. 29, he pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to serve 45 days in San Mateo County jail.
He was due to begin serving his sentence on Jan. 22, 2011.
Vanalstine, who was first scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, is conscious in the hospital but "not coherent," Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Baum said today.
His arraignment was postponed until Friday.
