Staff Reports
SAFFORD — A Graham County woman who called deputies claiming her ex-husband had killed her Chihuahua could end up facing charges herself after authorities discovered she had been contacting him in violation of an active order of protection.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies responded to a residence on South 14th Avenue on May 28, at approximately 9:18 p.m., after the woman reported that her ex-husband had killed her small dog.
Upon arrival, the deputy found the Chihuahua unharmed and returned it to the woman. Further investigation revealed that the woman had been exchanging text messages and phone calls with her ex-husband earlier that day, despite an active order of protection listing her as the defendant and prohibiting contact with him.
The woman reportedly told the deputy she was unaware the order prevented her from contacting him. Investigators noted several messages between the pair, and the woman admitted to texting and calling her ex-husband.
The ex-husband told deputies the couple had been arguing and that the woman stopped responding to his attempts to reach her. So, he said he texted her, threatening to put the dog outside if she did not reply, because he suspected she might be cheating on him. He denied harming the animal and claimed she misinterpreted his message.
The woman told the deputy that her ex-husband sent a message saying the dog was dead and called her in tears, saying phrases such as “you made me do it” and “what’s done is done.”
Deputies advised both parties to have no further contact for the night. The woman left the residence after being reminded of the terms of the protection order.
The case has been forwarded to the Graham County Attorney’s Office for review of a potential charge of interfering with judicial proceedings. No arrests were made at the scene.
