Christina Copley arrived at her neighbor's doorstep holding a 13-inch kitchen knife, covered in blood, and allegedly told the residents she had stabbed her husband to death before sitting down in their living room, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
Background
The incident occurred Saturday around 10:30 p.m. at the Copleys' home in Mesa, Arizona, located in the gated community of Windsong at Las Sendas. When officers arrived, they found Ed Copley dead on the floor next to his bed with a large quantity of blood around him. He appeared to have been stabbed numerous times in the neck, face and sternum.
Neighbors told police that Christina Copley had previously come to their residence periodically over the past four months, making statements that her husband abused her, was a child molester, abused her daughter, and forced her to have sexual intercourse with him. However, investigators noted inconsistencies in her various accounts.
"The defendant's statements would change, be inconsistent or not make sense during those disclosures," according to the affidavit. "It was also known that the defendant suffered from an unknown mental health diagnosis and was previously prescribed lithium."
The Investigation
When police interviewed Christina Copley about the killing, she initially denied killing her husband before changing her story, according to the affidavit. She ultimately admitted to stabbing Ed Copley but claimed he came after her first with a knife.
"The defendant described that she removed the knife from the victim and went 'ballistic' and started 'swinging' to get away while he held onto her shoulders," the document states. "She also admitted to taking the knife to her neighbor's house after the incident."
Christina Copley pointed to a tear in her pants and a long thin abrasion down her chest, which she said were caused by Ed Copley trying to stab her. However, police found no laceration or skin injuries underneath the tear in the pants, and investigators determined the abrasion appeared to be caused by a fingernail scratch.
She also claimed that earlier in the day, Ed Copley kicked her and called her racist names, stating he abused her often and her actions were self-defense. Officers noted there are prior calls for service involving domestic violence issues between them which led to Christina Copley being arrested previously.
The Charges
Christina Copley was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on a second-degree murder charge. She is being held on a cash-only $500,000 bond.
Key Takeaways
- Ed Copley, 82, was found dead with stab wounds to his neck, face and sternum at the couple's Mesa home
- Christina Copley allegedly showed up at neighbors' residence covered in blood holding a kitchen knife
- She admitted stabbing her husband but claimed he attacked her first — police dispute the physical evidence supporting self-defense
- Prior domestic violence calls had been made between the couple, resulting in previous arrest of Christina Copley
- Authorities noted inconsistencies in statements and that she has an unknown mental health diagnosis with prescription lithium history
What's Next
Christina Copley remains in Maricopa County Jail awaiting arraignment. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to Ed Copley's death.