A mother in Ohio has been charged with murder for allegedly plunging a collectible “short sword” that belonged to her husband into the back of her adult daughter, killing the woman last week, after grabbing it from a wall during an argument, according to police.
Terri Niner, 49, allegedly called 911 after the stabbing and told a police dispatcher she had fought with her slain daughter, Ayla Mangan, 32, on July 10 and other occasions in the past “over some dumb stuff,” according to The Repository.
Niner’s criminal complaint and police report, obtained by the local newspaper, describe her alleged conversation with the police dispatcher. Her husband, Francis Niner, faces an obstruction charge for allegedly withholding information from investigators.
“Please help us, please,” Terri Niner allegedly said.
“Did you cut her?” the dispatcher asks, according to the Repository.
“No, I grabbed the knife from her, and she went to throw herself backwards because she is autistic,” said Terri. “And when she attempted to throw herself backwards, it caught her. And I thought it just cut her a little.”
Canton police arrested the Niners on Thursday afternoon and scheduled a court appearance for July 16. Francis Niner told police he collects swords and displays them in his home. The one Terri allegedly used was hanging in the living room.
The complaint accuses Francis, also known as “Jay,” of being “untruthful” to investigators and deliberately withholding information relevant to the homicide investigation in order “to protect” his wife. He is Mangan’s stepfather.
“The allegations are very serious,” said Elise Hamilton, senior trial counsel with the Canton Law Department, during Terri Niner’s bond hearing. She reportedly told the judge that Mangan was autistic and had the functional ability of a 13-year-old.
The bond for Niner was set at $500,000.
