Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Chelsea Maranda Whigham, 19, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday in Gainesville after police said she threatened to stab another woman during a dispute at an apartment complex.
A Gainesville Police Department officer who responded to the incident reported that Whigham and the victim are not related. At the time, the two women were visiting people in separate apartments at an undisclosed apartment complex.
The confrontation reportedly began at about 7:48 p.m. on August 12, when Whigham and the victim became involved in a verbal argument. Police said Whigham allegedly went into her friend’s apartment, returned holding a kitchen knife, and walked toward the victim while repeatedly saying, “I’m going to stab you.”
According to the arrest report, Whigham allegedly shouted expletives at the victim multiple times. The victim told an officer that Whigham held the knife above her head in a stabbing motion and chased her for about 20 yards before the victim was able to retreat into a family member’s apartment. Whigham reportedly left the area before officers arrived.
When an officer later reached Whigham by phone, she reportedly acknowledged having a knife, saying, “Yes, I had a knife. I’m not going to lie.”
A witness also told a Gainesville Police officer that Whigham had a knife in her hand while actively “chasing” the victim and threatening to stab her.
After being read her Miranda rights, Whigham reportedly admitted that she went into an apartment, grabbed a kitchen knife, walked back outside, and yelled, “I’m going to stab you” at the victim several times. Police said she also admitted walking toward the victim and threatening to batter her.
Whigham has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She has a juvenile conviction from 2024, and she is out on bond after an arrest for felony battery in Leon County in April. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $50,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
