Marion County Jail in Salem (Oregon State Archives).
In a harrowing case of domestic violence, an Oregon man has been sentenced to over 20 years in prison for violently attacking his wife. This incident marks a tragic escalation, as it occurred while he was out on bond for a previous assault against her.
Mark Fox, 54, received a sentence of 20 years and one month after admitting to a slew of serious offenses, which include second-degree attempted murder, first-degree aggravated assault, and aggravated animal abuse. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office shared these details in a press release, which was later reported by Law&Crime.
The situation began to unravel on October 9, 2023, when the victim reached out to a friend via text, expressing her fear over her estranged husband’s increasingly threatening behavior, exacerbated by his alcohol consumption. Her friend promptly contacted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, leading to a visit from law enforcement. Officers found the victim visibly shaken, bearing bruises across her body.
Prosecutors documented that Fox had restrained her so forcefully that she struggled to breathe. Following this incident, Fox was detained on charges related to domestic violence, including strangulation, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon, as well as interfering with making a report. Despite the gravity of these charges, the state’s request for a $25,000 bond was overridden by a judge, who opted to release Fox under a “no contact” order. The victim also secured a restraining order against him.
Tragically, just a month later, on November 8, 2023, Fox attacked his wife once more. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered her in the driveway, suffering from multiple stab wounds. She recounted that Fox had barged into her home while she was on the phone, declaring that he would not be going to prison, and proceeded to assault her.
But nearly a month later, on Nov. 8, 2023, Fox again attacked his wife. Deputies again responded to the home, and this time they found her in the driveway with several stab wounds throughout her body. The victim told cops she was talking on the phone when Fox burst into the home and went after her, claiming that he wasn’t going to prison.
“Victim’s mother heard the confrontation over the phone, and she called 911 after hearing her daughter yell ‘Stop! Stop!’ while defendant’s voice could be heard saying ‘Why did you do this to me?’” prosecutors wrote.
The defendant came prepared to inflict major harm. He had duct tape, zip ties and a hunting knife, using the items to restrain the victim. Once she was tied down. Fox said he was going to slice off the victim’s ear. The two were tussling on the ground when Fox heard police sirens and ran away.
Cops later found Fox suffering from numerous self-inflicted stab wounds. Inside the home, deputies found the victim’s dog stabbed. The dog was rushed to a veterinarian but later died.
According to the Salem Reporter, Fox owned a construction company at the time of his arrest.
