An Arizona woman has been arrested and accused of murdering her husband, with neighbors reporting that she confessed to the killing and made allegations about his behavior. Christina Copley, 41, was taken into custody on Saturday after police were called to her Mesa home.
According to court papers, Christina Copley allegedly appeared at a neighbor's home armed with a bloody 13-inch kitchen knife and admitted to killing her husband, Ed Copley, 82. Witnesses told officers that she had blood on her face, neck, legs, and right arm at the time. Upon arrival, officers found Ed Copley deceased inside the home.
Christina Copley denied killing her husband to investigators, stating that he had attacked her with a knife and that she sustained cuts on her hands while wrestling it away. She also claimed her husband had called her racist names and kicked her. Police documents indicate she admitted to going "ballistic" and "swinging" the knife during questioning. She also informed police that she suffers from bipolar disorder and had previously been prescribed lithium.
Neighbors told investigators that Christina Copley had recently claimed her husband was abusive and had also accused him of being a child molester and of raping her daughter. Investigators noted inconsistencies in her accounts. The couple's neighbors, Ryan and Kelli Andrews, recounted Christina's appearance at their home, describing her state and the bloody knife she was carrying, which caused them to retreat.
Ed Copley was an award-winning artist, author, and lecturer whose work had been displayed in galleries across the United States. He was also a descendant of colonial portraitist John Singleton Copley. Ed Copley received numerous accolades for his art, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Realism Artist in 2023. Flowers and candles have been placed outside his Mesa gallery, which opened in May.
Christina Copley was booked into jail on a second-degree murder charge, with a cash-only bond set at $500,000. Her prior convictions include assault, disorderly conduct, and criminal damage. She had also been recently arrested for domestic violence against her husband. The Mesa Police Department has not released further details regarding the charge.