TUCSON, AZ – An Alabama man died last Thursday after sustaining critical injuries from a hatchet attack earlier this month in Arizona, according to family members. Jacob Couch, 32, succumbed to his injuries at 8:58 p.m. local time while on life support at the University Medical Center in Tucson, as confirmed by family.
The harrowing incident occurred on April 5 when Couch and his wife were at a bus stop in Tucson. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Daniel Michael, allegedly attacked Couch with a hatchet, striking him in the neck.
After three days, Tucson police apprehended Michael, initially charging him with aggravated assault.
Erica Sims, Couch’s sister-in-law, mentioned he developed pneumonia before his passing. Couch’s widow, Kristen, expressed her grief on social media, lamenting that they thought they had many more years ahead together. She shared images and fond memories from their time as a couple, marking an 11-year relationship.
Kristen also thanked those who have offered their support and prayers, adding that preparations to return Couch’s body to Alabama were underway. The couple originally hailed from Arab, Alabama, but had relocated to Los Angeles following a personal tragedy. They were journeying back to Alabama at the time of the attack.
Kristen detailed the ordeal, explaining that she and her husband were approached by Michael at the bus stop, who began shouting at them. As Couch bent down to retrieve their belongings, Michael allegedly attacked him without further provocation, she said.
In the aftermath, Daniel Michael’s charges escalated to first-degree murder following Couch’s death. Court documents indicate Michael remains in custody with a set bail of $2 million.
This brutal act has left a community in mourning and prompted an outpouring of support for Couch’s family as they grapple with the sudden and tragic loss of a beloved husband, father, and friend.