OKLAHOMA CITY » An autopsy shows the woman who was beheaded at an Oklahoma food-processing plant apparently tried to fight off her attacker, who had a serrated kitchen knife.

Fifty-four-year-old Colleen Hufford was killed in the Sept. 25 attack at Vaughan Foods in Moore. The autopsy released Wednesday says she died of decapitation resulting from sharp-force trauma to her neck.

The Oklahoman reports that the autopsy found defensive injuries to both hands and her right arm. The weapon was a kitchen knife with a blade about 8 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide.

Prosecutors have charged 30-year-old Alton Nolen with first-degree murder in the case and say they will seek the death penalty.

Police say Nolen attacked Hufford after learning he’d been suspended from his job at the plant.