By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – Her own mother may not have wanted her around, but law enforcement did and arrested Corine Runyon, 54, on multiple warrants after an alleged domestic violence incident on Saturday.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies were dispatched to a residence off West Cactus Road at about 6:30 p.m. after an 84-year-old woman called and said her daughter refused to leave her alone.
The victim advised that her daughter, identified as Corine Runyon, wanted to use a vehicle that the victim had access to and refused to leave her alone. The victim locked herself in her bedroom following a verbal argument and said Corine was attempting to gain entry.
While en route to the residence, Graham County Dispatch advised of two active warrants for Corine’s arrest regarding probation charges — one from Graham County Superior Court for a drug paraphernalia case in 2022 and for failing to appear in Safford Municipal Court regarding an assault charge from 2022.
Upon arrival, Corine was not located in the house but was found a short distance away. She allegedly told a deputy that her mother suffered from dementia and that she was her caretaker. She denied attempting to force her way into her mother’s bedroom and said she wanted to use the car to go to the hardware store.
As Corine was being placed under arrest, she expressed concerns for her mother’s well-being and said she cannot bathe herself and frequently forgets to eat. Corine also stated that her mother has no other nearby friends or family support and does not leave the house.
A Sheriff’s Office sergeant later interviewed the victim and confirmed she had access to food and water. The sergeant reported the victim denied experiencing any issues with her independence, although he did point out that her air conditioning was malfunctioning.
Corine was transported to the Graham County Adult Detention Facility and booked on her outstanding warrants. A deputy also completed an online referral form with Adult Protective Services regarding the mother’s situation.
