Support is surging for a Port Angeles man who was allegedly stabbed and carjacked after helping a couple and their seven children along Highway 101 near Sequim.
Melvin Swagerty, 60, was stabbed multiple times and left on the side of the road early Monday, Oct. 20 after offering a ride to the family, his daughter Christina Brown said on a GoFundMe page.
Swagerty stopped around 5 a.m. after seeing the family stranded near Highway 101. Moments later, the man—identified by Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies as Nicholas Well—allegedly turned on Swagerty while they were driving through the Sequim area.
Well stabbed Swagerty several times before he fell out of the vehicle, according to deputies. The couple then allegedly fled in Swagerty’s car with all of his belongings, including his wallet.
The children, ages 6 months to 9 years old, were also inside the vehicle. Some were found without proper clothing or car seats, deputies said.
Suspects Arrested in Kitsap County
Well and Rosario Lopez-Castro were later found passed out in the stolen vehicle in rural Kitsap County, according to deputies. The front seat of the car was reportedly covered in blood. A knife was allegedly recovered from Well’s pocket during the arrest.
The couple now faces a growing list of charges across two counties. Well and Lopez-Castro were first charged in Kitsap County with possession of a stolen vehicle and multiple counts of reckless endangerment involving domestic violence.
Clallam County prosecutors later added charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, and deadly weapon enhancements.
The seven children were placed into protective custody by Child Protective Services.
‘By the grace of God, he’s alive’
Brown said her father is lucky to be alive and is taking difficult but hopeful steps forward. In updates posted in the days after the attack, she said doctors removed his breathing tube and later cleared fluid from his lungs as his condition slowly stabilized.
“He’s still in a lot of pain and very disoriented,” she wrote. “He’s fighting hard, but it’s going to be a long recovery.”
Brown also credited an unidentified witness who called 911 after finding her father on Carlsborg Road. Deputies said that call likely saved his life.
Swagerty was released from Harborview Medical Center several days later, but Brown said the emotional trauma remains severe. She said his vehicle, which was impounded as evidence, may be too distressing for him to ever drive again.
Community Steps Up
Brown’s GoFundMe has drawn an outpouring of support across Washington and beyond. As of Saturday, Nov. 15, the fundraiser had surpassed $88,000.
Brown said the donations will help her father replace his car, recover financially during his healing, and rebuild a sense of safety after nearly losing his life.
“My dad may not be perfect, but he’s a human being who survived something that could have taken his life,” she wrote. “If it weren’t for him, those kids might never have been found.”
She later shared a mailing address for people wanting to send cards or care packages, adding that each message lifted her father’s spirits during his recovery. Swagerty, she said, is a Seahawks fan who loves hot caramel coffee, Reese’s, and M&Ms.
On Nov. 11, Brown posted a final update thanking the community.
“Each card has brought him so much comfort and emotion,” she wrote. “They remind him he’s not alone.” Those interested in supporting the family can donate via GoFundMe here.
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