Volusia Co. stabbing suspect will remain in jail pending mental evaluation

A Volusia County woman accused of attempting to burn her ex-boyfriend’s house down and stabbing a sheriff’s deputy will remain in the Volusia County Jail with no bond, pending a mental evaluation.

Brittany Bonin, 26, is also on suicide watch.

She faces multiple charges including arson, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

“Her intention was to burn the house to the ground, kill her boyfriend and then get in her car and drive on i95 and run into an embankment and kill herself,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Saturday night.

Chitwood said his deputy, Captain Cliff Williams, was stabbed near his left kidney as he tried to keep Bonin away from the victim.

“He saved the victim’s life in this case.  And he’s really lucky she didn’t get a good shot at him,” Chitwood said.

Williams was in and out of the hospital in a matter of hours and is expected back on the job on Monday, the sheriff said.

According to the victim’s sister, Jacqueline Demalia, Bonin and her brother had an on-again-off-again relationship that ended several months ago.

Demalia said Bonin returned to the victim’s home Saturday to pick up gifts she had given to the victim’s daughter and managed to get in the house, where she lit fires and broke two 90-gallon fish tanks.

“All of the fires were set back here in the baby’s room,” Demalia said as she showed FOX 35 a burnt out crib and a plastic kitchen set that had melted.

According to officers, the victim ran across the street to William’s house to ask for help and Bonin eventually followed.

“She got out of the car and charged her boyfriend.  And [Williams] just stepped in to try to separate them.  And that’s when he was like, ‘holy cow, I’m getting stabbed,’” Chitwood said.

“My brother is extremely grateful that he was here to help,” Demalia said, adding she hopes Bonin stays behind bars no matter what the mental health experts say.

"She didn't kill my brother, but I think she would if she had the opportunity.  And I really don't want that to happen.”