Deputy, 911 dispatchers use GPS to locate, save stabbing victim

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Channel 9 talked with a deputy and dispatchers who were able to help save a pregnant woman after she called 911 while her boyfriend stabbed her multiple times over the weekend.

Deputies said Diane Palma was attacked by her boyfriend, Frank Defulgentus, after she told him she didn't want to move in together.

Authorities said Defulgentus stabbed Palma 12 times as she dialed 911 and dropped her phone as the attack continued.

Palma didn't know the call connected, but dispatchers were on the other end and could hear her screams for help.

Dispatcher and deputies then used the cellphone's GPS to track Palma's location.

"You have a gut feeling when something is wrong and you have to do it to help them, you put the call in and you get the deputies there as soon as possible," said 911 operator Katherine Perron.

Orange County Sheriff's Deputy William Dover was first to arrive on the scene.

"I saw a male following her and then she screamed, 'Help,' and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up," said Dover.

It was a team effort from Perron, Dover and 911 dispatcher Natasza Wieczorek.

"She is screaming and screaming for help and no one is around," said Perron.

"As a team, we saved her life," said Dover.

Defulgentus has been charged with attempted second-degree murder.

WFTV