Woman allegedly attacked by Cathedral City man turns knife back on suspect, killing him

A 57-year-old knife-wielding man from Cathedral City suspected of attacking a woman in Newport Beach, only to have the weapon turned back on him by the victim this past weekend, succumbed to his wounds, police said Friday.

Police suspect Michael Meehan attacked the woman, who is in her 20s, at the Coronado at Newport apartment complex in the 1900 block of Sherington Place just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Jennifer Manzella of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Witnesses called police about the conflict on the top level of a parking structure at the apartment complex, Manzella said.

Meehan and the victim, whose name was not released, were acquainted with each other but not romantically involved, Manzella said. Police also do not suspect he was attempting to sexually assault the woman.

“They had a troubled relationship and he appeared to be trying to cause her physical harm,” said Manzella.

Meehan inflicted several knife wounds on the woman before she was able to wrestle the weapon away from him and stab her attacker multiple times, according to police. The woman was taken to an area hospital where she was treated for wounds that were not considered life threatening.

Meehan was pronounced dead at Orange County Global Medical Center at 10:10 p.m. Wednesday.

Police forwarded a report on the incident to prosecutors to review for possible crimes, but it appears the woman was acting in self-defense, Manzella said.