PUEBLO, Colo. (TCN) — Police arrested a 72-year-old woman last week after she allegedly stabbed her elderly husband to death in their unit in an assisted living facility.
On Nov. 25 just after 5:30 p.m., Pueblo Police Department officers responded to a call at the senior home Bonaventure of Pueblo and found a man deceased. Police said they interviewed and arrested a suspect for second-degree murder. The Pueblo County Coroner identified the victim as Larry Lawton and said he died from “injuries sustained in an apparent domestic violence incident.”
According to court documents cited by KXRM-TV, Lawton’s wife, Kathy Lawton, reportedly went to the front desk and said her husband was dead. She reportedly was “hysterical,” had blood all over her body, and smelled like alcohol.
Employees went to the Lawtons’ room and discovered Larry Lawton with apparent stab wounds to his body and his legs wrapped around his walker. A trail of blood reportedly led from the bedroom to Lawton’s body. Officials noticed a knife on an end table and appeared as if someone “tried to wipe the knife clean.”
Officers spoke with Kathy Lawton when they arrived but noted in court documents that she was being “argumentative and uncooperative.” She also acted “irrational and erratic” when officers asked her about evidence in the apartment, including the blood on her body.
She reportedly told the officers, “If you’re accusing me, I want a lawyer,” adding, “You better watch out.”
A neighbor said they heard the couple, who have had domestic arguments in the past, fighting prior to Larry Lawton’s death.
Pueblo County Jail records show Lawton is also being charged with misdemeanor harassment. Her bond is set at $252,500.
Bonaventure of Pueblo told KKTV-TV in a statement, “The victim and his wife resided in independent living, a section of our community that is active adult retirement living and receives no healthcare services. The altercation occurred behind closed doors inside their apartment and there were no witnesses. The alleged assailant remains incarcerated and will not be permitted to return to the community under any circumstances. We will remain cooperative with the police investigation.”
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