Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tacoma, WA: Investigators say man stabbed wife to death, then tried to kill himself

A 47-year-old man killed his estranged wife in her home Monday before trying to commit suicide with a knife, Pierce County sheriff’s deputies reported.

When 50-year-old Carol Selland didn’t show up at work or call in sick, concerned co-workers went to check on her about 10:45 a.m.

They called 911 after spotting the husband’s truck parked in the driveway in the 2600 block of 128th Street East.

“They knew she’d been having some trouble, and they were worried about her,” sheriff’s detective Sgt. Jerry Bates said.

Deputies arrived and looked through a window, spotting two bodies lying on the floor. The deputies forced their way into the home after seeing the man open his eyes.

The man was severely injured, apparently by self-inflicted knife wounds, but was combative with deputies.

“He was not cooperative. He wouldn’t drop the knife,” Troyer said. “We had to hit him with a Taser and bean bag gun twice.”

Selland was dead when deputies arrived. She had been stabbed. Her husband was taken to Tacoma General Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition Monday. He is expected to survive. Deputies stood guard outside his room.

Deputies were called to the couple’s house at least once last year to investigate a report of domestic violence, and Selland had a restraining order against her husband, Troyer said.

Selland was a family educator for Pierce County.

Several knives were found inside the home.

No comments: