ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A St. Johns County judge on Tuesday, denied bond for the woman accused of stabbing a St. Augustine priest last week.
With her hands shackled, Arieana Gibbs was seated in a St. Johns County courtroom face to face with a judge for the first time.
The 22-year-old woman is accused of stabbing St. Augustine priest, Father Matt Marino, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, while he was out enjoying coffee.
An incident local law enforcement quickly responded to, Officer Jason Etheridge is one of those first responders. He was the first witness called by the state at Gibbs' felony hearing.
"He was just laying on the ground, look like he was having a hard time breathing, with a stab wound in the upper chest area," said Etheridge.
After Etheridge, the judge heard from Emmy Lou Burgos, a 26-year-old McDonald's employee who police said Gibbs tried to stab before stabbing Marino.
"She went to me and she took my arm, my left arm really strong, and she said something to me," said Burgos. "I don’t remember what it was. I was confused because I was cleaning and she said something to me, then she took out a knife and tried to stab me in my arm, this arm."
During the hearing, Gibbs' attorney told the judge Gibbs has no prior felonies and requested a bond, telling the judge Gibbs would be present at court hearings, and even suggested she wear a GPS monitor.
"This is the first serious case she's ever been accused of," said Gibbs' attorney.
The state used their two witnesses and Marino's serious injuries to show the judge why they believe Gibbs should have her bond denied.
The judge granted the state's motion, keeping Gibbs in jail without bond. He believed this decision will "protect the community from harm."
Gibbs will be back in court on Nov. 7 for her arraignment.