Perham rehab program stabbing survivor says attack reunited her family

Tessa Olson, 45, says the man who attacked her in a Perham-area rehabilitation apartment stabbed her roughly 14 times and that the violence ultimately reunited her with her daughter. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office said it was alerted to the incident at 10:16 a.m., and that a neighbor’s intervention “likely saved the victim's life.”

Olson told investigators the attacker, identified in reports only as Cyrus, slipped into her room after a friend left and threatened sexual assault. Olson said, “I told him he wasn’t, and he told me he was going to take it, and I told him to leave.” Court records cited by reporting say Cyrus punched Olson to the ground, stomped on her head, grabbed kitchen scissors and stabbed her between the eyes, and stabbed her about 14 times across her body, severely injuring her abdomen.

Neighbor Keith Sleen broke a window to distract the attacker by throwing two chairs through Olson’s window, shattering the glass, which gave Olson time to escape to a nearby female friend’s apartment. Sleen attempted to climb through the broken window and cut himself, then ran to call 911. Perham paramedics treated Olson at the friend’s apartment before she was taken to a Perham hospital and then airlifted by helicopter to another hospital; authorities listed her in serious condition.

Police arrived while Cyrus remained at the scene and arrested him immediately. He was booked into the Otter Tail County Detention Facility and is being held on pending charges that include attempted second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, aggravated robbery and second-degree assault.

Olson is now recovering with her daughter, identified in reporting only as Wright, in Park Rapids and is attending physical therapy and counseling. Wright said she had once vowed, “I did tell myself I wouldn’t allow my mom to have a relationship with them until she was better,” but added, “But this situation also opened my eyes to a lot of things.” Olson praised her daughter’s support, saying Wright “works her ass off,” and that “She’s been there for me more than anybody. We love each other to death.”

As she recovers, Olson has refused pain medication stronger than Tylenol or Ibuprofen and described “the worst part of the healing” as the intense itching. She has spent time with her grandchildren during recovery, including an outing where “they all went to Pizza Ranch,” and continues therapy while criminal proceedings remain pending against Cyrus.