Stab victim changes plea, admits to role in robbery

Published 7:35 pm Saturday, July 28, 2012

What police originally thought was attempted rape and a stabbing last October has turned around: The alleged rape victim has instead pleaded guilty to simple robbery.

Tairicca Cierre Einfeldt, 21, pleaded guilty Thursday in Mower County Court to simple robbery, a felony. Two other felony charges for first-degree burglary and aggravated robbery were dismissed. Her alleged accomplice and boyfriend, Hans G. Kitange pleaded not guilty to those charges in January. He appeared in court on Thursday as well, but his plea remains not guilty.

Police began investigating the multi-faceted case the night of Oct. 29, 2011, when they were called to Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin to speak to Einfeldt, who had been stabbed in the back. According to the court complaint, Einfeldt said she was drinking with a Hispanic man, consented to have sex with him but changed her mind. She said the man retrieved a knife from the kitchen and indicated he was going to force sex on her.

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Einfeldt said she was stabbed in the midst of an argument when Kitange, now 19, came into the apartment and fought with the man. According to the court complaint, police were unclear how Einfeldt was stabbed or by whom when she gave her account.

Kitange’s story echoed Einfeldt’s with a few inconsistencies, and he changed the version of his story a few times when interviewed, according to the court complaint. Police found an unpackaged condom on the floor of the apartment, and the man’s neighbors — upon hearing him scream for help — checked on him and allegedly found him shirtless and fixing his pants.

Days after the incident police contacted the man Einfeldt claimed tried to rape her.

He admitted he met Eingeldt on a few occasions, who allegedly said she would have sex with him for money.

However, Einfeldt reportedly began drinking the man’s bottle of rum and looking out the window repeatedly. The man told police Einfeldt looked out the window after a couple minutes and said, “The cops aren’t coming,” at which point Kitange allegedly entered the apartment and tried to steal the man’s wallet.

According to the court complaint, a struggle ensued and led to the kitchen where Kitange yelled at Einfeldt to grab a knife. The man told police he was afraid the couple would kill him, so he took the knife, began screaming for help and stabbed Einfeldt in the back, according to court documents.

Neighbors told police they heard screams for help and checked on the situation. According to the court complaint, they never heard a woman screaming.

Kitange is set for a jury trial on Aug. 13. Einfeldt’s sentencing is set for Sept. 28.