Husband Arrested In Slashing
Published: Apr 4, 2006
TAMPA - A woman received about 200 stitches on her face and arms early Monday after her estranged husband slashed her during an argument, police said.
Antoinette Rutledge, 33, was recovering Monday at Tampa General Hospital, where officials declined to release information about her condition.
Her husband of six months, Claude Bernard Rutledge, 38, of 3417 E. Lambright St., was being held without bail at Falkenburg Road Jail, charged with attempted first-degree murder.
Antoinette Rutledge told Tampa police her husband moved out Friday at her request because he has a drug problem, a police report stated.
He returned about 2:38 a.m. Monday, smashing the sliding glass door to his wife's bedroom and attacking her with a glass shard, said Sgt. Eric Diaz, a police spokesman.
According to a police report, Antoinette Rutledge's 13-year-old daughter heard the commotion and called police. Officers arrived to find Claude Rutledge, blood covering his arms, hands and pants, leaving the house, a report stated.
Antoinette Rutledge suffered a gash about 8 inches long on the left side of her face, two cuts on the right side of her face and cuts on her arms, police said.
Public records show that the couple married Oct. 10. This was the first marriage for Antoinette Rutledge and the third for her husband.
Florida Department of Corrections records show that Claude Rutledge was released from a state prison in May 2004 after serving about two years for cocaine possession and battery.
