DICKSON, Tenn. (WKRN) — Multiple stab wounds, third-degree burns and broken ribs are just a few of the brutal injuries that a Dickson County woman suffered on Monday.

It started as a normal day.

“She said she was going inside to get the boys and she’ll be there,” the woman’s sister, Tori Trotter, said. “We live five minutes apart.”

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However, Tori said that she knew something was wrong after her sister never showed up. Out of concern, Tori called their mother, who went by the house to check on what was holding her sister up.

It was then that they realized something was seriously wrong.

“The whole road was blocked off,” Tori said. “and “The house was roped. It was — I don’t know — it was just the worst experience I’ve ever had.”

Dickson police officers responded to a home on North Charlotte Street. When crews arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the house. Shortly after, police found a woman with multiple stab wounds, with one officer noting that the knife was still inside a woman when they found her. That woman was Tessa Trotter.

“I thought she was gone. I thought I lost my sister,” Tori said. “I can’t even describe it. I can’t put it into words. This just doesn’t seem real. I just wouldn’t expect this to happen to my family to Tessa.”

Tori has been by her sister’s side since Tessa was brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for her injuries. As of this writing, she is still hospitalized and undergoing numerous surgeries.

“She had nine stab wounds. She had three in her neck. She had multiple in her back and multiple in her chest,” Tori told News 2. “Her whole right leg had third-degree burns, her lung was collapsed, her ribs were broken, her whole face was just swollen and bruised.”

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According to court documents, Tessa’s husband, 28-year-old Zachary Mowel, approached one of the officers at the scene and said “I did it. It was me.”

“He’s never been physical with her. He’s been emotionally abusive towards her,” Tori said. “She actually asked for a divorce back in May. She actually called a lawyer that morning and had an appointment set up, and none of us expected this, not this.”

Later, agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would determine that Mowel attacked his wife, doused her with gasoline, then set the home on fire.

Now, Tessa’s family is hoping that her story could make a difference in someone else’s life.

“I just hope people realize emotional abuse can be far more worse than physical abuse,” Tori said. “You never know what someone can be capable of.”

Tori said that doctors do not expect that Tessa will be able to walk again. However, family added that she is very strong and is constantly thinking about her sons.

Mowel was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault (domestic-related), and domestic assault. He is currently being held in the Dickson County Jail on a $765,000 bond.

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The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with medical costs.

Meanwhile, the McEwen Weather Center is holding a bake sale that is also raising money for Tessa’s medical expenses. The bake sale is set to take place on July 27 at the Freezer to Table in McEwen from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

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