A Merrill woman has been charged with trying to kill a 76-year-old man in his apartment last Thursday.
Stacey A. Hansen, 45, of 215 Grand Ave., Merrill, faces charges of attempted first degree intentional homicide, strangulation and suffocation, intentionally subjecting an individual to risk of abuse-cause great bodily harm, aggravated battery and misdemeanor bail jumping. She had an initial appearance in Lincoln County Circuit Court Monday and is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
According to court records, Lincoln County Dispatch received a call late Thursday night that the victim, a resident of the same apartment building as Hansen, was in medical distress. Merrill Police Officer Robert Caylor, also a trained EMT, was first on scene and found the victim without a pulse. He performed CPR on the victim and obtained a pulse. The victim was then transported by Merrill Fire Department ambulance to Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center.
At the hospital, the victim was able to tell officers that Hansen tried to kill him by placing a bag over his head. Evidence found at the scene corroborated the victim’s account. He suffered bruising to his nose and forehead and broken blood vessels in his eye.
A preliminary hearing in the case has been set for Nov. 9.
According to the Merrill Police Department, the investigation is ongoing. The apartment building is secure, the perpretrator is in custody and the residents have no reason to feel that they are in danger, Capt. Corey Bennett noted.