Vergennes, Vermont -- September 28, 2011
Police cars and yellow tape surprised Susie Rivait when she showed up for work at Champlain Farms on Main Street in Vergennes Wednesday morning.
"I was hoping no one got hurt. I was worried about Dana," Rivait said.
Dana was working the overnight shift at the convenience store when he says a woman came in and held him at knifepoint.
"Apparently she came in the store, demanded the money and presented a knife. He attempted to subdue her, got the knife away from her and got her to the floor," Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel said.
Police arrived on scene shortly after 4 a.m. They say Yemalla Sprauve, 34, was not stabbed, but was not responsive and was transported to Porter Hospital, where she later died.
"She was fighting with him the entire time," Merkel said.
The store employee escaped with cuts and bruises. He gave police a statement, but the investigation is ongoing.
"There are security cameras but sometimes they work and sometimes they do not. At this point we think we have footage, but we still have to look into that," Merkel said.
Rivait says she has never felt unsafe while working, but this incident changes that.
"Yeah, I will be looking over my shoulder and everything. It will be a little scary for quite a while," she said.
Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel
