LACEY, Wash. -- Investigators believe two boys saved their mother after their own father stabbed her with a steak knife.

When police responded to a frantic 911 call at the home of Steven Smith around 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, they found him standing on the porch, covered in his wife's blood.

"He tried to cut her throat, and the 17 year old was able to get him off of her," said neighbor Kyle Kennemore.

Investigators said Smith and his wife had gotten into a heated argument, and the man charged at his wife with a steak knife.

The noise of the attack woke up the couple's 17-year-old son, who rushed in to help his mother. The couple's 8-year-old son, who said he also witnessed the attack, called police.

"And while they were listening in on this, they overheard the 17 year old telling the mother to run," said Sgt. Scott Eastman.

With the help of her teenage son, the woman was able to break free and run down the street. She was bleeding profusely when she stumbled into David Allen's back yard to hide.

"It was pretty bad," Allen said. "Blood from her head, at least from her neck down. I mean, pretty much her whole body was covered in blood."

While Allen was helping the woman, police arrested Smith for investigation of attempted murder.

Officers said the two boys' courageous actions made a huge difference in what could have been a tragedy with an even worse outcome.

"One of the things we realize is that this 8 year old getting on the phone and calling 911, and the 17 year old intervening really saved the mom's life and probably the kids' lives as well," Eastman said.

Smith has an extensive criminal history with convictions for burglary, forgery and domestic violence. He is scheduled to face a judge on Wednesday.

His wife is expected to make a full recovery.