‘The system failed that kid’s family’: Woman stabbed by Whitemarsh Island stabbing suspect speaks out exclusively to WTOC

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - “The system failed that kid’s family,” said Erica Young, a previous stabbing victim of Delano Middleton.

“If they would have did their job in my case or the other cases, because there’s other victims besides myself, then he wouldn’t have been on the streets to be able to hurt a child,” said Young.

WTOC has exclusive insight following a deadly stabbing at Walmart on Whitemarsh Island nearly 2 weeks ago.

Police say Delano Middleton stabbed and killed 18-year-old JT Schroeder on October 23 after police say the teen kicked the man’s cart.

But now we’re learning that this same suspect stabbed a woman multiple times, 4 years ago.

4 years and 1 day is the exact time frame in between when Erica Young was stabbed in 2021 and when JT Schroeder was stabbed to death 2 weeks ago.

Erica tells WTOC that if the judge had been harsher in her case, Middleton wouldn’t have been out on the streets to stab someone else.

October 22nd, 2021, is a day Erica Young says has forever impacted her life and is also the reason she fled the state with her children.

She was working as a manager at U-Haul on Ogeechee Road.

That day, she says, and Savannah Police confirmed, Middleton walked in, stole keys from behind the desk, and went outside to take a truck.

“I asked him did he needed help finding his vehicle, and he shoved a cart over on top of me and just started stabbing me,” said Young.

Young was stabbed in the stomach and in the head multiple times. She says the attack was unprovoked.

“When I was on the ground, he told me that he wanted to watch me bleed out,” said Middleton. “I’ve never met him before that day, never had any contact with him.”

The courts said Middleton needed a mental evaluation.

A doctor said he was incompetent in 2022.

Several months later, he was evaluated by the same doctor and ruled competent.

He took a negotiated plea deal in December of 2023 and pled guilty to one charge of aggravated assault.

He received a sentence of 2 years to serve and 8 years on probation.

“Honestly, this is my true opinion on it,” said Young. “He got away with the stabbing of me, so he thought he could get away with it again.”

Middleton already spent 2 years in jail while his case went through the system, and so he got credit for time served and was released.

Fast forward to last month— Middleton was still on probation when police say he stabbed 18-year-old JT Schroeder.

Schroeder died several days later and donated his organs.

“I’m so sorry for their loss,” said Young. “It made me wish I fought more- then he wouldn’t have been able to get out of the streets. But I have two kids, so I fled. We packed up our entire house.”

Young says it still affects her everyday life, including memory loss. She says she is willing to testify in JT’s case now- if need be.

And as for that recent case— we have reached out to Walmart for comment about what went on inside the Walmart store that day that led up to the stabbing.

Middleton is charged with murder and is being held on no bond. He is due back in court on the 20th for a preliminary hearing.

If you’d like to help JT’s family you can do so through the verfified GoFundMe link here.