Sentencing delayed for man who wrapped self in plastic, threatened wife

Circuit Court Judge Benjamin F. Lewis delayed sentencing Monday for a Cape Girardeau man who wrapped himself in plastic and threatened to kill his wife by displaying knives with her name on one of them in March.

Joshua D. Wright's attorney, Mary Patricia Tucka, asked for a continuance as arrangements are still being made for the defendant to be enrolled in Teen Challenge, a faith-based drug and alcohol recovery program.

Wright, 23, was charged with third-degree domestic assault and unlawful use of a weapon. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a hearing April 12.

An argument between Wright and his wife started while the victim was having lunch with an ex-boyfriend, the victim told police.

When Wright's wife arrived home and asked her husband why he was wrapped in plastic from head to toe, he allegedly replied "I'm not going to get blood on me ... when I kill you," according to a probable-cause affidavit.

The knives Wright displayed on a coffee table included a wooden-handled knife nearly 7 inches long and a black-handled knife around 5 inches long. The victim's name was written on one of the blades and her ex-boyfriend's name was written on the second knife.

A third weapon, a broken wooden stick around 26 inches long, had both their names written on it.

Wright will appear again for sentencing June 14.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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