A 41-year-old woman was arrested in Mesa, Arizona, accused of murdering her husband, Ed Copley, an 82-year-old artist, author and lecturer whose work had been exhibited in galleries in different states across the country.

The detainee, identified as Christina Copley, faces a charge of second-degree murder for the death that occurred on Saturday in the home they both shared within a gated residential community.

Neighbors alerted the police after seeing her with a bloody knife

The investigation began when Christina Copley went to a neighbor's house carrying an approximately 13-inch kitchen knife covered in blood, according to court documents cited by local media.

The witnesses reported that the woman had blood on her face, neck, arms and legs and that, upon arrival, she told them that she had killed her husband.

When the agents entered the home they found Ed Copley lifeless on the floor, next to a bed.

During interrogation, Christina Copley initially denied murdering her husband and claimed that he tried to attack her with a knife.

According to her version, she suffered injuries to her hands when she struggled to get the weapon away from him and claimed that the man hit her and insulted her.

However, investigators noted that he later admitted to having lost control and beginning to brandish the knife.

Police also indicated that the woman reported suffering from bipolar disorder and stated that she had previously received treatment with lithium.

Neighbors claimed that she had made accusations against her husband

People who lived near the couple told investigators that in recent months Christina Copley had told them that she was being abused by her husband.

They also claimed that the woman came to accuse him of being a sexual offender of minors and of having abused her daughter.

Investigators noted that these statements presented inconsistencies.

Ryan Andrews, one of the neighbors who received the accused moments after the events, said that when he opened the door he observed that she was holding the knife while a large part of her body was covered in blood.

“I just stared into space,” he recalled. Given the situation, he and his wife decided to stay away for fear of being attacked.

Ed Copley was a renowned artist

Ed Copley was a painter specializing in portraits, as well as an author and lecturer. His work had been exhibited in galleries in different parts of the United States.

In 2023 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Albert Nelson Marquis Who's Who in the Arts for his contribution to artistic realism.

Likewise, he was a direct descendant of John Singleton Copley, one of the most prominent portrait painters of the American colonial era.

After learning of his death, family, friends and admirers placed flowers and candles in front of the gallery that the artist had opened in Mesa last May.

Christina Copley remains in custody on $500,000 cash-only bail.

According to court records, the woman had prior convictions for assault, disorderly conduct and property damage. Additionally, she had recently been arrested for a domestic violence case involving her husband.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the homicide to determine precisely how the events occurred.