LISA HOBBS - News Editor
McMinnville Police Department investigated a stabbing that occurred on Westbrook Lane today.
“I don’t know the exact time that the call came out,” McMinnville Police Detective Chris McCormick. “I know that she was located at 2:26 p.m. So, I’m going to guess around 2:10 or 2:15 p.m. The call comes in that a male has advised that he’s been stabbed in the chest by a female by the name of Amy Washer, and she has fled the scene on foot.”
Washer, 38, was located in the area of Sunset Drive, taken into custody and transported to Warren County Sheriff’s Department.
McCormick identified the victim as Richard Thomas, who he believes is 76 years old. The stabbing took place in the kitchen of Thomas’ residence on Westbrook Lane.
“We had to force our way into the residence because the door was locked. We located the victim in the garage. He had a laceration to the center of the chest. We found the knife on top of the fridge.”
When questioned about the relationship between Washer and the victim, McCormick added, “I’m really not sure. He stated that he let her move in about a year ago because he felt sorry for her.”
During an interview conducted at the jail by the detective, Washer allegedly confessed to a verbal altercation and the stabbing. However, she claimed it was an act of self-defense.
“She stated that they got into a verbal altercation, because he thought she made a mess in the kitchen. He was yelling at her to clean it up and that’s what led to the stabbing. She did say it was self-defense. That he came at her, but she didn’t have any marks at all. Not even a little redness.”
McCormick says other occupants of the home were interviewed, and they allegedly stated that they heard a verbal dispute, but nothing that sounded like a physical altercation, and heard Thomas state, “Are you going to stab me?”
The wound, says McCormick, was estimated to be 1.6 centimeters in depth, and he wanted to charge Washer with attempted homicide.
“The district attorney’s office decided they wanted to go with aggravated assault. My argument was ‘it’s about a seven- or eight-inch blade to the center of the chest, but their argument was that it only penetrated 1.6 centimeters. A grand jury might change it to attempted homicide. I guess we will see how that goes. For now, the charge is aggravated assault.”
Washer is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A mugshot was unavailable.