A 41-year-old Arizona woman has been arrested after authorities say she fatally stabbed her 82-year-old husband inside their Mesa home before walking to a neighbor’s house carrying a large kitchen knife and claiming she had acted in self-defense.
Christina Copley was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on a second-degree murder charge following the death of her husband, Ed Copley. According to an arrest affidavit, officers responded to the couple’s residence in the gated Windsong at Las Sendas community around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday after a neighbor called 911.
Neighbor Reported Woman Arrived Covered in Blood
Investigators said Christina Copley went to a nearby home carrying what was described as a 13-inch kitchen knife. Witnesses told police she was covered in blood on her face, neck, arms and legs when she arrived.
According to court documents, she entered the residence, sat down in the living room, and allegedly informed the occupants that she had stabbed her husband and that he was dead.
The neighbors immediately contacted law enforcement.
Police Found Victim Dead Inside Bedroom
When officers arrived at the Copley residence, they discovered Ed Copley lying on the floor next to his bed in a pool of blood.
Police said the 82-year-old appeared to have suffered multiple stab wounds to his neck, face and sternum. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators recovered evidence from the home as they began examining what had occurred before the fatal stabbing.
Suspect Claims Husband Attacked Her First
During questioning, Christina Copley initially denied killing her husband. She later acknowledged stabbing him but claimed she acted only after he allegedly came at her with a knife.
According to the affidavit, she told detectives she managed to take the knife away from him before becoming overwhelmed.
She allegedly stated that after disarming him, she “went ballistic” and began swinging the knife while trying to get away as he continued holding onto her shoulders.
She also admitted taking the knife with her to the neighbor’s home after the incident.
Officers Question Physical Evidence
Christina Copley pointed officers to a tear in her pants and a long scratch across her chest, claiming they were injuries she suffered while her husband attempted to stab her.
However, investigators reported that the damaged clothing did not match any underlying injuries. Police noted there were no cuts beneath the tear in her pants, and the mark on her chest appeared to be consistent with a fingernail scratch rather than a knife wound.
These observations caused detectives to question portions of her account.
Woman Alleged History of Abuse
According to the affidavit, Christina Copley told investigators that her husband had physically abused her earlier that day by kicking her and insulting her with racist remarks.
She also claimed he had been abusive throughout their relationship and insisted the fatal stabbing was an act of self-defense.
Authorities noted that law enforcement had previously responded to domestic violence incidents involving the couple, including prior situations that resulted in Christina Copley’s arrest.
Neighbor Described Earlier Allegations
The neighbor who contacted police told investigators that Christina Copley had visited their home periodically over the previous four months.
During those visits, she allegedly made numerous accusations against her husband, claiming he abused her, abused her daughter, forced her to have sexual intercourse, and had molested children.
According to the affidavit, the neighbor said Christina’s stories frequently changed, contained inconsistencies, or did not make sense.
The neighbor also informed investigators that Christina Copley reportedly had an unspecified mental health condition and had previously been prescribed lithium.
Murder Charge Filed
Following the investigation, authorities arrested Christina Copley on a charge of second-degree murder.
She was booked into the Maricopa County Jail, where she remained in custody on a cash-only bond set at $500,000.
The investigation into the fatal stabbing remains ongoing as prosecutors continue preparing the case for court.
