Wife held in fatal stabbing

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December 28, 2009

By KATHY MELLOTT The Tribune-Democrat Mon Dec 28, 2009, 11:48 PM EST

BEDFORD — Alcohol likely played a role in the stabbing death of a Bedford County man by his wife, authorities said Monday.

State police are investigating the

9:45 p.m. Sunday death of Gary Wayne Showalter, 52, of Northwood Road, Clearville. Police have arrested the victim’s wife, Terri Lynn Showalter, 45, of the same address.

She was charged Monday after spending most of Sunday night and Monday morning at UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital being treated for a stab wound to her left knee area, Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins said at a news conference.

“Alcohol likely was a factor,” Higgins said.

Terri Showalter was arraigned in front of District Judge Brian Baker of Hopewell and lodged in the Bedford County Jail without bail on a general charge of criminal homicide. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 6 at Bedford County Central Court, Everett.

State police Cpl. Brian Hoover said Gary Showalter was stabbed more than one time with a weapon recovered at the scene. He would not disclose the number of stab wounds the victim received or the size of the knife, describing it only as a “kitchen knife.”

Higgins said the couple, married eight years, apparently was involved in a domestic dispute which escalated into the stabbing.

Any history of domestic problems or violence between the couple was not known to authorities.

“They are not people we are familiar with,” Higgins said.

Following the stabbing, Terri Showalter called the Bedford County emergency dispatch center and reported the incident. Hoover and Higgins would not say if she admitted to the murder.

While the victim was not pronounced dead at the scene until 12:35 a.m. Monday by Bedford County Coroner Sam Gordon, Higgins said in all likelihood the victim died immediately or shortly after the stab wounds were inflicted.

An autopsy, including toxicology testing, was performed Monday, but no additional information was available, Higgins said.

The accused was charged with general homicide, but there was some indication she may have been acting in self-defense.

“In all likelihood he stabbed her,” Higgins said.

But he would not speculate on possible self-defense.

Authorities, however, said they continue to investigate the chain of events between the Showalters, who were in the home alone at the time of the incident.

“There was no indication there was a battle or a struggle as far as furniture being upset, that type of thing,” Hoover said.

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