Tennessee Woman Stabs 81-Year-Old Husband To Death As She Didn't Like His Coffee: Police

An argument between a Tennessee couple over the quality of coffee ended in tragedy after the wife allegedly stabbed her husband to death inside their home.

Officers arrived at the couple's home in Grahamwood, Memphis, on Sunday morning and found 81-year-old Wesley Downey with multiple stab wounds. The wife was not at home when the police arrived. The man was rushed to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to his injuries the same day.

Before his death, Wesley told officers that his wife, 68-year-old Sheila Downey, started arguing with him because she didn't like the taste of the coffee he prepared for her, NBC affiliated station Action News 5 reported. A furious Sheila then went into the laundry room and tried to drink bleach, but he managed to stop her.

The woman became angrier when Wesley stopped her from harming herself. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife before stabbing her husband, police said.

Wesley was in critical condition when he was taken to the hospital.

Police took Sheila into custody when she returned home sometime later. She is facing charges of first-degree murder. She is being held without bond and is scheduled to make her first appearance before a judge Tuesday.

A neighbor, who did not want his identity to be revealed, told WREG News Channel 3 that Sheila had been struggling with her mental health in recent years. She reportedly had sent a strange text to the neighbor's wife about Wesley's health on the morning of the murder.

"It raised some concern but we really didn't know what had happened until we saw all the police arrived," he told the outlet. "He [Wesley] was just a really good person, and he always tried to help people, and it's a shame he had to go that way."

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.