A Umatilla woman who called 911 to say she had been battered ended up being the one arrested for allegedly stabbing a 70-year-old man.
Michell Marie Miller, 55, was still on the phone with dispatch yelling about having to answer questions when a Marion County sheriff’s deputy arrived at her home on SE Highway 42 at 1:25 a.m. last Tuesday. Miller told the deputy the victim slapped her across the face during an argument, but the deputy couldn’t see any redness or other injuries where she said she was hit.
The victim told the deputy the two had argued for several days about alleged affairs and were in an argument on the front porch when Miller pulled out a large hunting knife, raised it above her shoulder, and told him she was going to kill him.
The victim said it was the same knife she keeps under her mattress and he was familiar with it because he’s seen it during similar incidents. He said it wasn’t the first time she’s made threats like that, a sheriff’s office report states.
The victim said he went into the house and hid the knife block from Miller. And after she put the knife back under the mattress, he took it and threw it into the yard where she couldn’t get it, the report says.
The victim said the two were in another argument late Monday night when Miller slapped him three times with an open hand. He said he slapped her back because she had hit him, the report says.
Miller admitted she told the victim she was going to kill him but she denied having a knife in her hand and ever threatening the victim with a knife. She was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.
The victim later called the sheriff’s office and told the deputy he hadn’t provided all the information at the scene. He added that after Miller first tried to stab him, he took the knife away and began hiding all the knives in the residence. He said during the argument, Miller found another knife and came after him, swinging the weapon back and forth until it hit him in the lower abdomen, causing small cuts. The victim said he didn’t report the injuries at first because he didn’t want Miller to get in more trouble.
Another deputy went back to the home and picked up the knife allegedly used to cut the victim. He also confirmed the victim had three lacerations in his lower abdomen consistent with being cut by a knife, the report says.
Miller was charged with aggravated domestic battery on a person 65 years of age or older. She was released Thursday afternoon on $2,500 bond and will appear in Marion County Court on Feb. 12.