A man accused of stabbing his girlfriend and breaking into his former wife’s home in Cortez will face formal charges Jan. 21 in Montezuma County Court.
The suspect, Christopher Wheat, was arrested Jan. 5 after police responded to a report of a stabbing at 338 S. Harrison St. about 11 p.m.
The woman who Cortez police identified as Wheat’s girlfriend, Ashley Jeter, was treated for “serious bodily injury” because of chest stab wounds, according to a physician at Southwest Memorial Hospital.
According to the Cortez Police Department, Wheat’s former wife reported that she heard a commotion next door, where Jeter lives.
The woman said Wheat had run into her house and told her that he had just stabbed Jeter and wanted to kill himself, an incident report said.
Wheat then allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and coerced his former wife into giving him the keys to her Kia.
He drove off but returned about an hour later and broke into his former wife’s house, the report said. When officers arrived, Wheat grabbed his young child and held him up at his chest. He pointed a knife at officers as he retreated toward a hallway.
Officers instructed Wheat’s former wife to leave the premises. According to the report, Wheat told the child that he was going to jail for a long time and that “you ain’t going to see me ever again.” After repeated orders to let the child go, Wheat released him into police custody.
Wheat then went into the bathroom and closed the door. He stated to the police that he couldn’t come out and that he “took some bad drugs.”
Wheat eventually opened the door and police could see fresh blood running down his bare chest. He then asked police repeatedly to kill him before taking two kitchen knives and stabbing himself in the neck.
Wheat then complied with police demands to sit down and drop the knives. He was placed into custody by handcuffing his hands in the front.
Police and emergency medical services administered first aid to Wheat in order to stop the bleeding. Wheat continued to ask medics and officers to kill him, the police report said.
He was treated at Southwest Memorial, then jailed at the Montezuma County Detention Center. The physician’s report indicated that Wheat had a minor chest stab wound.
He was booked on suspicion first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, criminal attempt second-degree homicide, aggravated motor vehicle theft and child abuse.
He will appear in Montezuma County Court on Jan. 21 to hear formal charges against him.
According to Cortez Police Lt. Andy Brock, Wheat originally was from Albuquerque.
anicotera@the-journal.com
