JOLIET - Police say a Joliet woman was defending herself against a knife attack from her husband when she stabbed him to death in front of the couple's 4-year-old daughter.

Joliet police Chief Fred Hayes says 44-year-old William Krok began attacking his wife Maureen with a knife as they made breakfast Monday. She suffered stab wounds to her upper chest and hands.

Police say 40-year-old Maureen Krok grabbed another knife to defend herself, stabbing her husband before running to a next door neighbor for help. William Krok was pronounced dead at the scene. Maureen Krok was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

Authorities say the 4-year-old girl witnessed the stabbings but was not hurt.