Docs: Man attacks ex-wife, says he was fighting ‘evil witch’

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) – A 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Thursday, Aug. 22 after he seriously injured his ex-wife, saying he was fighting an “evil witch,” according to court documents obtained by NewsNation affiliate KTSM.

Early Thursday morning, El Paso Police officers responded to 3348 Tierra Mision in reference to a shots fired call. The person who called said five to six shots were fired and that Marcus Anthony Payne, 40, was at their front door rambling.

Upon arrival, officers observed Payne yelling and throwing objects before running back into his house.

According to court documents, officers on the scene spoke with Payne’s mother over the phone and learned that Payne had ongoing mental health issues, and that the officers’ presence would aggravate Payne further.

Payne’s ex-wife was notified about the incident by Payne’s mother, and she showed up to the scene.

According to court documents, Payne’s ex-wife was able to calm Payne down. However, Payne refused to step outside for officers.

EPPD decided to break down their perimeter and leave Payne inside his house, according to court documents.

At around 6:13 a.m., multiple calls were placed in regard to a welfare check. Witnesses advised of yelling going on. One of the witnesses, a nearby neighbor, said that he could see through his doorbell camera a woman who was bleeding and banging on his door, according to court documents.

According to court documents, fire-medical crews responded to the scene and located the victim who was taken to a local hospital.

Officers approached Payne’s house and saw him standing in the front yard with a pitbull dog. Verbal commands were given to Payne, which he complied with, and he was detained without further incident.

Payne told officers he was fighting with a “witch” and that he was able to trick her and get her into a “cage,” according to court documents.

According to court documents, officers conducted a safety sweep of Payne’s house for any additional victims. Officers were able to observe “suspected” blood throughout the house, a machete, a small axe, a handgun, unfired bullets and spent casings.

Additionally, officers observed blood inside an SUV parked in the driveway of the house, and a blood trail that appeared to lead from the residence going across the street, according to court documents.

EPPD’s Crime Against Person’s investigators were called out to continue the investigation. They were informed that Payne’s ex-wife had approximately “six lacerations to her head, a broken skull with exposed brain matter, multiple defensive wounds on her arms/hands and that she is currently intubated,” according to court documents.

According to court documents, investigators also observed that a portion of Payne’s ex-wife’s left-hand middle finger was missing and appeared to have been cut off.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Payne’s house and located a firearm, a machete and a small axe with suspected blood on it on top of a mattress in the living area, according to court documents.

According to court documents, investigators also discovered a dog kennel with “a large amount of blood pooled at the bottom,” confirming Payne’s statements regarding getting someone into a “cage.”

Investigators also discovered a portion of finger that appeared to have been cut off that was consistent with Payne’s ex-wife’s injury, according to court documents.

When investigators met with Payne, he said he did not recall what happened that night. However, he stated that he recalled having a dream where he was fighting an “evil witch,” according to court documents.

According to court documents, Payne said he used two swords to fight the “witch” and said he landed several blows.

Payne also said he does have a machete and axe inside his house. He also said that the sandals he was wearing belong to his ex-wife, so he believed that his ex-wife was at his house earlier, according to court documents.

Payne was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to court documents.

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