Woman accused of stabbing 82-year-old husband to death claims he was abusive

MESA, Ariz. (AZFamily/Gray News) - An Arizona woman accused of murdering her 82-year-old husband is claiming self-defense because he allegedly abused her, according to court paperwork.

Christina Copley, 41, is facing a second-degree murder charge related to the stabbing death of her husband, 82-year-old Ed Copley. Her bond was set at $500,000, cash only.

Mesa Police say Christina Copley showed up at her neighbor’s house just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Court documents say she was carrying a 13-inch, blood-covered kitchen knife and had blood on her face, neck, legs and her right arm up to her elbow. Witnesses said she admitted to stabbing and killing her husband.

When officers arrived at the Copleys’ house, they found Ed Copley dead, lying on the floor next to his bed.

During an interview with police, Christina Copley first denied killing her husband then said he came at her with a knife first, court documents said. She said she had cuts on her hand because she was trying to take the knife away from him, and he had kicked her and called her racist names earlier that day.

But police said the cut on the suspect’s chest appeared to be a fingernail scratch, not something from a knife. She also allegedly admitted going “ballistic” and “swinging” the knife.

Neighbors said over the past few months, Christina Copley told them her husband was abusive toward her, a child molester and abused and raped her daughter, but her stories were inconsistent, investigators said.

Court paperwork said Christina Copley had prior convictions for assault, disorderly conduct and criminal damage and was recently arrested for domestic violence against Ed Copley.

Police also said the suspect told them she had bipolar disorder and had been previously prescribed lithium.