New Bedford man sentenced for violent 2022 stabbing

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said a man who stabbed a woman last March was sentenced to state prison.

Authorities said 41-year-old Robert Tirado pleaded guilty last Friday to indictments charging him with assault and battery with dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.

Court documents said on March 8, 2022, the victim and Tirado’s girlfriend were drinking and horsing around walking down Linden Street in New Bedford.

At one point, the victim picked up her larger friend and dropped her to the ground, officials said.

Tirado also happened to be driving down the same street at that time. Authorities said he jumped out of his car and stabbed the victim in the back seven times.

The victim was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital where medical officials said she was treated for a collapsed lung.

Officials said after the incident, Tirado and his girlfriend absconded, leaving behind three children ranging in age from six to 13 years old, alone.

Tirado and his girlfriend were on the run until April 12, when Tirado was arrested in Rhode Island.

Despite the serious injuries she sustained, the victim in the case refused to cooperate with the prosecution, officials said.

Court documents said Tirado was previously convicted on manslaughter for the 2001 killing of George Carpenter in New Bedford and was sentenced to serve a 20-year state prison sentence.

Documents from that case said Tirado and coconspirators punctured Carpenter’s tire to prevent him from leaving, then later kicked, stomped and struck him with a tire irm.

Carpenter later died from his injuries at the hospital officials said.

During his sentencing hearing, the judge argued based on the severity of the attack and Tirado’s previous conviction, he should be sentenced to 10 to 12 years.

The judge ended up sentencing Tirado to serve four to seven years in state prison.