Tichina Marshall, a 29-year-old former Wendy's employee in Danville, Illinois, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree murder following a stabbing attack on a co-worker in May 2025. Prosecutors said a video was captured of Marshall stabbing the woman in the face and head while telling her, 'I am going to kill you.'
The news came after Marshall's aggravated battery charge was dropped as part of a plea deal. She had initially been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery and faced up to 30 years in prison after the attack at the now-closed Wendy's restaurant.
Tichina Marshall Had Threatened Her Co-Worker
For context, prosecutors said Marshall had previously threatened to kill the same co-worker about a month before the stabbing. They did not provide a motive for the hostility between the two women.
The attack occurred while the victim was speaking with their manager. According to the Vermilion County State Attorney, video showed Marshall stabbing her colleague 'at least two times in the face and once on the top of the head'.
The victim was found 'laying on the floor, bleeding uncontrollably and nearly unconscious', prosecutors said. She had a one-inch stab wound to the head and a fractured skull.
The source does not provide a motive for the attack. Prosecutors' account focuses instead on the previous threat, the surveillance footage and the injuries suffered by the victim.
Wendy's Stabbing Led To Guilty Plea
Marshall ultimately pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder. The aggravated battery charge was dropped as part of the plea deal, according to the report.
She was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. State Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said the penalty reflected 'the violent nature of this attack and the devastating injuries suffered by the victim'.
Lacy also said no sentence 'can undo the lasting effects' of the attack on the victim. Her statement highlighted the injuries suffered during the stabbing and their lasting effects.
Marshall will also face three years of mandatory supervised release after completing her prison sentence, according to the report.
The source does not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the plea agreement or explain why the aggravated battery charge was dropped. It also does not provide additional information about the victim's recovery following the attack.
The Wendy's Restaurant Is Now Closed
The stabbing happened at the Wendy's restaurant at 2501 N. Vermilion St. in Danville, Illinois. The location is now permanently closed.
Prosecutors said video captured the attack, while their account also detailed the condition in which the victim was found. They said Marshall had threatened the co-worker roughly a month earlier before attacking her while she was speaking with their manager.
Marshall's 12-year sentence follows her guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder. She will also serve three years of mandatory supervised release after completing her prison sentence, according to the report.
The prosecution described the victim as being nearly unconscious and bleeding uncontrollably after the attack. She suffered a fractured skull and a one-inch stab wound to the head, while the source provides no further details about her subsequent recovery.
