Poplar Bluff man stabbed in buttocks, goes to hospital, goes to jail

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff teenager coming to his mother's aid Sunday afternoon during what authorities describe as a domestic dispute soon found himself in need of aid when his stepfather allegedly turned the violence on him.

The teen's mother protected her son by allegedly stabbing her husband, Jeremy Ellis, twice in the buttocks, sending him initially to the hospital and then to jail.

Officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department were called to the home shared by Jeremy Ellis, 33, his 44-year-old wife, Michele Renee Ellis, and his 19-year-old stepson, Carson Miller, at about 2 p.m.

While en route, patrolman Steve Nance reportedly learned Jeremy Ellis had been stabbed during the dispute and had driven himself to the emergency room.

Nance, according to his report, spoke with Michele Ellis, who told him she and her husband had been having "some marital problems in the past involving domestic violence and him cheating on her.

"She has been planning to divorce him, and they recently [had] been talking about it," Nance reported

On Sunday, Michele Ellis reported she and her husband got into an argument over a vehicle they share and infidelity. Michele Ellis said her husband made violent threats.

Michele Ellis, Nance said, reported her son had heard the argument and had gone into the bedroom "due to him knowing of the past domestic violence."

According to Michele Ellis' statement, her husband "went toward her as if he was going to grab her," and Miller got between his mother and stepfather.

"Jeremy began fighting with Carson, striking him in the mouth with his fist," Nance said. "A physical altercation between Jeremy and Carson began, and Jeremy had Carson held down on the couch in the living room and was striking him with his fist."

Michele Ellis reported she attempted to get her husband off of her son; however, "Jeremy continued to strike Carson with his fist. Because Jeremy had told her that he would kill her, she feared for Carson's life."

At that point, Nance said, Michele Ellis retrieved a kitchen knife and warned her husband that "if he didn't get off Carson, she would stab him.

"Jeremy continued to strike Carson in the face with his fist."

Nance said Michele Ellis reported stabbing her husband in the buttocks area in an "attempt to stop him from beating Carson."

After being stabbed, Nance said, Jeremy Ellis went into the bathroom, where his wife began trying to apply pressure to the wounds.

"Jeremy knew he was bleeding severely; however, he ran into the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen chair and went after Carson again," Nance said. "Jeremy pinned Carson against the kitchen stove and began striking him with his fist."

Michele Ellis then went outside, where she called authorities.

Miller, Nance said, reported awakening to hear his mother "screaming 'Don't hit me again.'"

Miller, according to Nance, provided an account similar to that of his mother, indicating his stepped between his mother and stepfather to "protect her."

When the alleged struggle began, Nance said, Miller reported his stepfather "began striking him with his fist, busting his lip."

Miller, Nance said, also reported hearing his mother screaming "get off my son" as his stepfather allegedly had him pinned on the couch.

After the stabbing, and as his mother was rendering aid to his stepfather, Nance said, Miller also reported Jeremy Ellis came after him again, shouting he was "really going to beat" him and that he "didn't touch her."

Miller's lip, Nance said, was swollen and had been bleeding, while his mother had no obvious physical injuries.

As Detective Leigh Morgan processed the scene, patrolman Danny Hicks went to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he found a truck matching the one driven by Jeremy Ellis in the parking lot.

Hicks, according to his report, saw a large amount of blood on the ground, as well as inside the truck.

Hicks subsequently contacted Jeremy Ellis in a trauma room, where he was being treated for two stab wounds, Hicks said.

"Ellis initially told me his wife, Michele Ellis, had stabbed him because he had gotten into an altercation with his stepson, Carson Miller," said Hicks, who subsequently learned the initial investigation at the residence indicated Jeremy Ellis was the "initial aggressor, causing the altercation."

Jeremy Ellis was arrested at 3 p.m. on suspicion of third-degree domestic assault and booked at the Butler County Jail.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, MO