Florida woman, 61, is charged in gruesome murder of her disabled husband, 62, after he was found stabbed 140 times and bludgeoned with meat cleaver
- Joan Burke, 61, was arrested after allegedly stabbing 62-year-old Melvin Weller to death at their home in Palm Springs, FL, on February 11
- Police were called to the scene by Burke’s son, Ricardo Green, 41, after he returned from work to find his stepfather lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen
- Knives and a meat cleaver were found in the sink and cleaning tools and products were found next to Weller’s body
- An autopsy later revealed Weller had been stabbed 140 times all over his body, and had a skull fracture
- Burke appeared in court on Sunday via video-conference and was denied bail
Joan Burke was arrested after allegedly stabbing 62-year-old Melvin Weller to death and charged with first-degree murder
A 61-year-old Florida woman was charged with first-degree murder after she stabbed her disabled husband 140 times and bludgeoned him with a meat cleaver, police said.
Joan Burke was arrested after allegedly stabbing 62-year-old Melvin Weller to death at their home on the 4400 block of Anna Lane in Palm Springs on February 11.
Police were called to the scene by Burke’s son, Ricardo Green, 41, when he returned from work to find his stepfather lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen.
Burke was found lying in the bed of the master bedroom, and was taken to a hospital for evaluation after she refused to speak to law enforcement.
She was booked into Palm Springs Main Detention Center on Saturday, according to Palm Springs Police.
Burke, who was licensed as a nursing assistant until 2019, appeared in court on Sunday via video-conference and was denied bail.
Weller’s family reportedly said he was physically disabled but did not specify the degree of his condition.
Weller, who was physically disabled according to his family, was found lying on a pool of blood by law enforcement
The gruesome crime took place at the couple’s home on the 4400 block of Anna Lane in Palm Springs on February 11
Upon arriving to the gruesome scene of the murder, police found Weller’s body in the kitchen, with blood smears on the walls, ceiling and cabinets of the room.
Knives and a meat cleaver were found in the sink and cleaning tools and products were found next to Weller’s body, local news station WPTV reported.
An autopsy later revealed he had been stabbed 140 times all over his body, and had a skull fracture.
Burke, who was conscious in the master bedroom but would not talk, was taken to JFK Hospital to be evaluated.
Police said they found lacerations on her hands.
A woman who appeared to be Weller’s cousin posted a tribute on Facebook.
‘Rest In Peace Cuz…I can’t even imagine how hard it was for you during your final hours on earth (140 stab wounds)…. Still in disbelief. May God comfort the entire Weller family…,’ Nicola Andrews wrote.
A woman who appeared to be Weller’s cousin posted a tribute on Facebook
Weller’s family reportedly said he was physically disabled but did not specify the degree of his condition
Advertisement
