Valentine’s Day mother stabbing victim moves judge to tears during damages statement

October 7 was an emotional day in Ward 9 as family members of Georgia Avery, the victim of a stabbing on Valentine’s Day 2021 by her classmate, delivered impact statements in court. The attacker, Cora Vides, was found guilty of attempted murder on August 12 after a lengthy jury trial. The same jury later ruled that Vides was mentally ill at the time of the attack, meaning she would serve her sentence in a psychiatric hospital instead of prison. Now Deroian’s Santa Barbara judge, guided by recommendations from the California Department of State Hospitals and victim impact statements, must decide whether Vides will be admitted to an inpatient or outpatient program, where and for how long.

Vides was scheduled to receive a placement recommendation on Oct. 7 after the victim’s family gave their statements, but due to an apparent missed email, the Department of State Hospitals did not begin reviewing Vides’ mental health reports and court records until later than expected . Therefore, the State was unable to submit a recommendation to the court in a timely manner.

However, the victim, as well as her mother, father and older sister, still gave their statements to a packed and tearful courtroom.

Vides herself had trouble keeping her composure, crying and screaming, “That’s not true!” and “I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it!” as Avery’s parents spoke about their premeditated plan to kill their daughter. According to testimony, Vides was leading Avery through a meditation exercise on the night of Feb. 13 when she counted down from three and stabbed Avery in the neck. After a struggle that left Avery with more stab wounds, Vides eventually had to wake her parents, who took Avery to the hospital.

“‘Georgia has a cut,'” began Kelly Avery, Georgia’s mother. “That’s it [Vides’s father] I said on the phone that evening. When I pressed him for more details, he hung up.”

During the jury trial, the defense team argued that Vides was in a state of severe dissociation when she stabbed Avery in the neck – a state that an expert likened to being on autopilot. “If this is your autopilot, then something is really wrong,” said Robert Avery, Georgia’s father. “I fear something like this could happen again.”

For months after the stabbing, “Georgia was afraid of everything,” Kelly added. In Georgia’s videotaped impact statement, she said none of them could sleep for months because they feared Vides would “come and try to finish the job.” At the hospital, Georgia was afraid of her doctors, nurses, and family, even though she knew they were all there to help her.

Kelly Avery described a moment months after the attack when she leaned in to kiss Georgia goodnight and her necklace touched Georgia’s neck. The feeling of cold metal on her stab wound caused Georgia to shrink away from her mother and scream – a moment Kelly said she will “never forget” as a mother. This statement even moved the judge to tears.

“Your actions, Cora, made me feel like a failure,” Kelly said, her voice shaking. “I couldn’t protect Georgia.”

Despite the help of a 24/7 service dog and a single dorm room, Georgia faced enormous challenges in college. She described barricading her door with furniture while she slept, still afraid that someone would try to hurt her. “My trust in other people is completely shattered,” she said. To this day, Georgia continues to participate in “strenuous” intensive care therapy to stay afloat.

“Georgia’s only mistake was loving and supporting the defendant like a friend,” said Olivia Avery, Georgia’s older sister. “I forgive you, but I’m still very afraid of you.”

The court will continue to hear impact statements from both parties on October 29, when a placement recommendation for Vides will be made.