Police: Man tried to kill woman in dispute over Social Security

MIDDLETOWN — A local man is in custody after police say he tried to kill a woman last week during an apparent dispute over Social Security fraud, police said.

Hayward Smith, 52, was charged with first-degree assault, criminal attempt to commit murder, carrying a dangerous weapon and second-degree breach of peace. He was held on a $1 million bond and appeared in court on Friday.

The charges stem from a stabbing in a Main Street apartment on Thursday, police said.

Officers were dispatched to the apartment for a report of a stabbing and found a 54-year-old woman who had been stabbed in the abdomen, police said. The woman identified Smith as the person who stabbed her, police said. Police said Smith had fled before they arrived.

The victim was taken to Hartford Hospital, where she underwent surgery. She was in stable condition and recovering from surgery on Monday, police said.

While officers were at the scene investigating, Smith turned himself in at the police station.

Police said Smith and the woman had “allegedly been using narcotics together and arguing about money most of the night.” During the arguments, the victim told Smith she reported him for alleged fraudulent use of her Social Security benefits and said he would go to jail. Police said Smith was angry about the allegations.

“He told officers that he did not want to go to jail for something he didn’t do and that ‘if he went to jail, it would be for something he actually did,’” police said. “Smith then used a kitchen knife from the apartment to stab the victim with the intention of killing her. He then dropped the knife and left the scene.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 860-638-4000.