Florida Woman Allegedly Stabbed Husband More Than 140 Times; Charged With Murder

A Florida woman is facing charges of first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing her husband more than 140 times and bludgeoning him with a meat cleaver.

Joan Burke, 61, was arrested on Feb. 11 after police found her husband, Melvin Weller, dead with hundreds of stab wounds in her house in Palm Springs, NBC-affiliated WESH-TV reported. Police said they received a call from Weller's stepson, Ricardo Green, who found the body lying on the floor in a pool of blood when he came home from work.

Officers said there was blood on the walls, cabinets and kitchen counters. They recovered several knives and a meat cleaver from the kitchen sink. Burke was lying silently in the bedroom at the time.

An autopsy confirmed that Weller died of multiple stab wounds and a fractured skull caused by a blow from the meat cleaver. Burke had lacerations on her hands. She was taken to a hospital for an evaluation.

"It is very common for the offender to have lacerations to the palm of one or both hands when he or she stabs another person," the arrest report said, according to USA Today. "This is especially true when the victim is stabbed many times, as was the case with Mr. Weller's death."

Investigators also found cleaning tools on the floor near the victim's body. They believe a violent struggle had occurred in the place. A tied-up plastic bag containing Burke's bloodstained nightgown and a cell phone was also recovered from the kitchen countertop.

Weller's family members told investigators that the former was physically disabled as he struggled to walk due to poor grip strength. Weller filed for divorce from Burke in December, USA Today reported, citing court records. It was not known if the couple was living in the same house after that.

Burke was charged with first-degree murder and held without bail Sunday. The motive for the crime wasn't clear.