By Shannon Lukens.
Today was a happy graduation ceremony at Discovery Learning Center. Here’s part of a song from the Pre-K kids in Miss Kylie’s Class.
Kylie Leggett was there today, after getting home after 30 days in the hospital in Loveland. Leggett, 28, was attacked and stabbed by someone she didn’t know on April 23. She was house-sitting at a home in Steamboat Springs, over spring break, when the person broke into the home.
“No, it’s happy tears. It means a lot. I am really thankful that I was able to recover so quickly so I could be up here to celebrate this special time with all of my students and I’m just so grateful, and thankful, and blessed just for all of the support from the community and knowing that when I go home it’s going to be OK. And it just means a lot to be back. My students are my everything and they have grown and blossomed so much this year and it’s just amazing to be able to come back and see everything that I’ve taught them that they’re still doing in class and it’s just such a joy.”
Colleen Miller is the Executive Director for Discovery Learning Center. She says they’re happy Kylie is well enough to return to Steamboat and be a part of her class’s graduation.
“It’s a happy time for everybody, and it’s even more so having her be a part of this because we were thinking we were going to have to record this and send it to her and possibly schedule something later and now we get to all celebrate together.”
A GoFundMe page was set up for Leggett by parents of her students, with details of what she has gone through. “She was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and has undergone multiple surgeries.” Leggett says she has one more surgery ahead of her.
On May 29, the GoFundMe page said, “She has amazed her doctors and her recovery has progressed to the point that she can be back at home. However, Kylie still has an incredibly long journey ahead of her with another big surgery on the horizon sometime this fall.”
Her father, Earl, was with her at the graduation ceremony Thursday. He said he and his wife have been taking turns spending time with their daughter while she recovers. Kylie’s parents live in Crossville, Tennessee.
The person accused in the attack is a 16-year-old juvenile, who was arrested and is still at the Grand Mesa Youth Services Center in Grand Junction. Charges include:
- Count 1 is Attempt to Commit Murder in the 2nd degree – Class 3 Felony, if charged as an adult.
- Count 2 is Assault in the First Degree – Class 3 Felony, if committed by an adult
- Count 3 is Criminal Attempt to Commit First Degree Burglary – Class 4 Felony, if committed by an adult.
The District Attorney’s office has asked that the juvenile be charged as an adult. If convicted as an adult, the sentence could be four to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. That person is next in court on July 23.
Steamboat Springs Police has also confirmed that the same person is also a suspect in an incident at Wild Plum Market where something was thrown through the front doors of the business on Village Drive. The glass was broken. It happened in late March.
Video of vandalism at Wild Plum Market
Here are some pictures from today’s graduation ceremony.
