A 41-year-old woman in Mesa, Arizona, is facing a murder charge after she allegedly killed her elderly husband and then walked to a neighbor’s house holding the weapon, according to police.
Christina Copley was taken into custody following the death of her 82-year-old husband, Ed Copley, at their residence in a gated community late Saturday night. Investigators say officers were called after a neighbor reported that Copley had arrived at her front door covered in blood and carrying a large kitchen knife.
According to police records, Copley initially denied harming her husband, claiming instead that he had attacked her first and that she was injured while defending herself. Officers, however, said they found no physical evidence supporting that account — a tear in her clothing showed no matching wound underneath, and a mark on her body appeared consistent with a scratch rather than a stab injury.
Authorities said Copley later admitted to using the knife on her husband, describing a moment where she “lost control” while he allegedly held onto her. She reportedly told the neighbor what had happened before officers arrived, prompting an immediate call to police.
When officers reached the home, they found Ed Copley unresponsive near his bed, having suffered multiple wounds to the upper body, according to investigators.
Police records also note that the neighbor had previously been told by Copley that her husband was abusive, though her statements were described as inconsistent over time. Reports indicate Copley had a documented mental health history and had previously been prescribed medication for it. Officials also confirmed prior domestic violence complaints between the couple that had led to an earlier arrest.
Copley has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond, according to jail records.
The case remains under investigation.