Police said the woman survived the attack and was hospitalized in stable condition with serious injuries.
MESA, Ariz. — An Arizona man is accused of stabbing his wife 24 times inside their Mesa apartment before calling 911 and admitting responsibility, according to police records cited by local and national news reports.
Nathaniel Gotham, 32, was arrested after officers responded at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11, to an apartment complex near East University Drive, the Mesa Police Department said. Officers found an injured woman and took an adult man into custody. Police described the episode as isolated and said there was no continuing threat to the public.
The woman, identified by authorities only as Gotham’s wife, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Mesa police told People that she was in stable condition and that her injuries were not considered life-threatening. Her name has not been released.
According to a police report obtained by Arizona’s Family, Gotham called 911 after the attack and said he was responsible. Officers arriving at the apartment found him near the injured woman, the report said. Police began providing aid before emergency workers transported her to the hospital.
Prosecutors said during Gotham’s initial court appearance that the woman had wounds to her back, head, neck and face, along with injuries to her hands that appeared consistent with an attempt to defend herself. The reporting organizations said 16 of the wounds were on her back. Authorities have not publicly released medical records or provided a further update on her recovery.
Gotham allegedly told investigators that he had “snapped” and wanted to hurt his wife and make her stop talking, according to the police report cited by Arizona’s Family. Investigators also said he made statements blaming her for his dissatisfaction with their relationship. Those claims are allegations contained in the investigation and have not been tested at trial.
Police said investigators recovered a kitchen steak knife that they believe was used in the attack. Gotham also allegedly told officers that he had assaulted his wife during an argument years earlier, according to the report. No information was immediately available about whether that alleged earlier episode had been reported to police or resulted in charges.
Reports differed on the length of the couple’s marriage. People described them as having been married for about 14 years, while Arizona’s Family reported that they had been together for about 14 years and married for four. Authorities have not publicly clarified the discrepancy.
Gotham was booked on an attempted second-degree murder charge involving domestic violence, according to Mesa police information reported by People. A judge set his bond at $500,000 during his first court appearance Sunday. A criminal charge is an allegation, and Gotham is presumed innocent unless proved guilty.
Online jail information cited by People listed Gotham’s next court appearance for Friday, July 17. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office had not publicly announced additional charges as of Tuesday, and no attorney for Gotham was identified in the reports reviewed.