An Avon Lake man, Woodie Francis, at the age of 78, has been charged with the attempted murder of his wife following a grand jury indictment in Lorain County. According to WKYC, the incident, which occurred on December 3, he allegedly stabbed his 70-year-old wife multiple times while she sat in a recliner at their home on Wedgewood Drive. The charges against him include attempted murder and felonious assault, the indictment coming after police found the severely injured victim.
Francis made the call to the authorities, admitting the stabbing and requesting help for his wife. When police arrived, they discovered her with serious wounds to her neck, chest, and hands. Her condition was not updated, though she was stable when taken to UH St. John Medical Center in Westlake. This incident left Francis' attorney, William Mooney of Elyria, who declined to comment; the situation grew more complex as records show that Deborah Francis, the victim, had previously filed for divorce in 2014 before the case was ultimately dismissed, details provided by Cleveland.com.
The victim's name was withheld at first but has been identified as Deborah Francis, and her husband, Woodie Francis, remains at the Lorain County Jail with a bond set at $1 million, according to Cleveland19. The judge overseeing the case denied a reduction of his bond. Although the next court date has not been publicly disclosed, the indictment suggests serious legal repercussions in line with the severity of the assault.
