A man from Texas has been apprehended and accused of fatally stabbing his wife, just days after being freed on bail for threatening a different family member, where a police officer had transported him back to the residence.
Mary Spears, 53, was f0und stabbed to death in the backyard of her home on Monday, according to the Arlington Police Department.
The authorities identified Frederick Spears, age 55, her estranged husband, as the primary suspect. They located him the following day, but as they neared him, he began to stab himself and disregarded commands to drop the weapon.
Police eventually managed to detain him by using tasers, non-lethal ammunition, and a police dog. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is recuperating from his wounds.
Authorities report that Frederick Spears sent an alarming text message to one of his wife’s relatives, leading that relative to visit her residence to verify her safety. Upon arrival, the relative discovered her in the backyard suffering from multiple stab wounds. Further investigation by detectives revealed that Frederick Spears had sent incriminating text messages to his wife’s phone and other individuals, implicating himself in her death.
Police said that although Spearses were estranged, Mary Spears had “just recently” allowed Frederick Spears to stay at her home.
The previous Wednesday, police had been summoned to the house following a verbal dispute between him and another family member, during which he threatened them with two kitchen knives. He was detained on charges of aggravated assault for family violence and subsequently released on bail the following day.
An emergency protective order was issued as part of his release conditions, prohibiting Spears from returning to his wife’s residence or contacting her or other family members. However, after he made bail, an Arlington police officer transported him back to the residence upon his request, according to the police.
“Upon arriving at the home, Mr. Spears got into a verbal argument with family members,” police said. “The officer who drove Mr. Spears ultimately instructed him to leave the location and he complied.”
The department said it “is conducting a comprehensive administrative review to determine whether changes to policy and/or procedures are necessary to ensure this does not happen again. ”
