Man, 26, dies after his wife stabs him, police allege

9/22/2006

Johnson

A 26-year-old West Toledo man became Toledo's 18th homicide victim of the year when, according to police, he was stabbed by his wife in the thigh during an argument yesterday at their apartment in the 1400 block of Milburn Avenue.

Leonardo D. Johnson, 26, died at Toledo Hospital, police said, after bleeding heavily from the stab wound.

Erica K. Fells, 25, who was charged with voluntary manslaughter, was being held in the Lucas County jail without bond pending arraignment today in Toledo Municipal Court.

Dr. Cynthia Beisser, a Lucas County deputy coroner, said the knife used in the stabbing severed the femoral artery in the thigh, a major artery in the middle of the leg surrounded by muscle.

Dr. Beisser said Mr. Johnson's blood loss was substantial.

Toledo police arrived at 1443 Milburn, Apt. B, about 3:45 a.m. on a report of a person stabbed. Witnesses told police the couple had been arguing before the incident.

Police found Mr. Johnson in the apartment with the stab wound with Ms. Fell attempting to stop the bleeding. Authorities said Mr. Johnson was pronounced dead about 4:45 a.m.

"What we do know is that this was a domestic dispute over something," Sgt. Tim Noble said.

The couple was married on Ms. Fells' birthday, May 11, of this year.

In February, Mr. Johnson was ordered to serve 30 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, Stryker, after being convicted in Toledo Municipal Court on charges of aggravated menacing, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespassing.

This was the second time this month that a woman has been charged in the death of her boyfriend or spouse.

On Sept. 2, McArthur "Mac" Gray, Jr., of the Pinewood Place Apartments on Collingwood Boulevard was stabbed and later died in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. Police arrested Christina Braswell, Mr. Gray's girlfriend.

A Lucas County grand jury indicted her on a charge of murder on Sept. 8.

Mr. Johnson's death was Toledo's fifth homicide this week.

Jerome Saxton, 22, died Sunday. He had been shot in the head June 5 while sitting in a car in the 1400 block of Lincoln Avenue in central Toledo. Antoine Tuggle, 22, was arrested in connection with that shooting.

Brett Mayne, 55, died Monday. She was shot in the face and chest June 11 while standing on her front porch in the 500 block of Austin Street in North Toledo.

Tammy Cappelletty, 30, and Juan Ybarra, 24, were shot fatally Tuesday night in a vehicle at Baker and Locust streets in North Toledo.

Police said they have no suspects in Ms. Mayne's death or the Tuesday night murders.

Contact Clyde Hughes at:

chughes@theblade.com

or 419-724-6095.