Stabbing details emerge

Rebecca Boysen
Herald Staff Writer

July 22, 2008 01:03 pm

— CLINTON — More details are surfacing concerning last weekend’s incident that hospitalized a Clinton woman and sent a man to jail on an attempted murder charge.
According to officials, Jill J. Brantley remains hospitalized at Mercy North Hospital for treatment of her injuries after being stabbed in the back and throat Saturday. Robert J. Ewing has been arrested in connection with the stabbing and is charged with attempt to commit murder, a class B felony.
Documents show that officers from the Clinton Police Department were called to 514 10th Ave. South around 7:20 p.m. Saturday for a report of a stabbing. The investigation revealed Brantley suffered stab wounds to the back and throat, and she was transported to Mercy North Hospital for treatment.
Records state that Ewing spoke to officers and admitted to stabbing Brantley after taking several methadone capsules in an attempt to “kill himself.” Ewing was transported to Mercy North Hospital and officials state he waived his rights and agreed to tell officers what occurred at his residence.
An affidavit shows Ewing told officers voices within a song he listened to told him Brantley was “Satan,” and instructed him to kill her. Ewing stated he walked up behind Brantley as she sat on the couch and “poked” her in the back below her right scapula with a silver folding knife with a blade measuring roughly 21/2 inches long. Ewing stated he thought the blade entered Brantley’s back approximately half an inch. Documents state Brantley then turned around, and Ewing “punched” the knife into her throat, claiming again the music told him “it was my duty to kill her.”
Authorities state that Brantley was able to give an abbreviated interview to police during her treatment, saying that after Ewing stabbed her in the back, he stabbed her in the throat, causing her to fall from the couch to the living room floor. The affidavit shows Brantley stated she started screaming and Ewing “jumped on top of her, held his hand over her mouth and stated, ‘do you want to die screaming or die quietly?’” Brantley stated Ewing held his hand over her mouth until she stopped screaming, and stated she “truly believed he planned to kill her.”
The affidavit states Ewing then directed Brantley to the bathroom, where he showered her and attempted to treat her wounds. He then moved Brantley to their bedroom, where he changed her blood-soaked clothes and attempted to treat her wounds. Ewing, who claims to suffer from schizophrenia, stated he treated Brantley’s wounds for approximately two hours before calling police.
Brantley told officials she did not attempt to leave the residence out of fear Ewing would kill her. The affidavit states Brantley underwent surgery to close the gaping laceration to her throat. She remains hospitalized.
Ewing was released by the Mercy North Hospital Emergency Room doctor into police custody. He remains in the Clinton County Jail on $25,000 bond.