MARYSVILLE — A Marysville woman was jailed Saturday after she allegedly fired a gun while arguing with her husband of more than 30 years.
Starlene Roth told police she wasn’t trying to shoot her husband, but she was angry that he wasn’t helping her around the house, Marysville police detective Craig Bartl wrote in an affidavit filed Monday in Everett District Court. Investigators found a bullet in the front doorjamb of the couple’s house.
Roth, 54, was booked for investigation of attempted first-degree murder. Her attorney, Brian Ashbach, argued that the police report didn’t provide any evidence that Roth was trying to kill her husband. He asked that she be released from jail.
Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui found probable cause to hold Roth for investigation of attempted second-degree murder. Bui set bail at $250,000.
Roth’s husband told police that his wife grew increasing upset with him on Saturday. He had just returned home Friday from the hospital, where he was treated for a chronic medical condition. He said his wife began complaining that he hadn’t been able to do anything around the house, Bartl wrote.
She allegedly threw a glass vase outside. She then reportedly knocked over the barbecue on which her husband was cooking ribs.
He said she went back inside and broke the TV remote control and later retrieved her 9mm handgun from their bedroom and ordered the man out of the house.
He was sitting on the love seat but stood up as his wife approached. That’s when his wife fired. He grabbed his keys and phone and fled. Roth followed him outside. He told police he wasn’t sure if his wife fired at him.
“I didn’t want to wait for the second shot,” he said.
Police arrested Roth, who explained her frustration with her husband. He wasn’t helping her clean up a mess and she began yelling at him, court papers said.
She allegedly told police she had a lot on her plate and “blew up.” She grabbed her gun and told detectives she pointed the weapon at her husband. She allegedly admitted that she pulled the trigger while she was pointing it at her husband but said she missed. Roth allegedly told police she had never been so mad at her husband and wanted him to pay.
She also said she wasn’t trying to shoot him, Bartl wrote.
Roth doesn’t have any prior felony convictions. She was convicted of drunken driving last year.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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