Gainesville woman accused of stabbing estranged husband

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Frances Marie Scott, 42, was arrested early yesterday morning and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing her estranged husband.

At about 12:31 a.m. on April 23, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a home where the victim had been visiting and was told that Scott had arrived “totally uninvited” and wanted to talk to the victim. The victim said he walked back to her vehicle with her but told her he didn’t want to leave with her. The victim said Scott was sitting inside the car, with the door closed but the window open, while they were speaking, and Scott suddenly stabbed his arm with a steak knife. The victim said Scott got out of the vehicle and cut him again on his arm, leading to a physical struggle; the victim said he managed to flip Scott over and restrain her until the officer arrived.

Another occupant of the home told the officer that she heard dogs barking, went outside, and heard the victim yelling, “Stop!” She said he had his hand up in a defensive posture, and his arm was bleeding. She ran back inside to get her phone and call 911.

Another occupant of the home saw the first witness run inside with blood on her, saying, “She cut him.” Both witnesses went back outside and later told the officer that they saw the victim walking away from Scott with his hand up; they said Scott was pursuing him and started punching him, then she pulled his hair, and he hit her to defend himself. They said the victim pinned Scott to the ground until the officer arrived.

A witness in Scott’s vehicle reportedly said Scott had gotten out of the vehicle holding a steak knife and chased the victim. That witness said she tried to stop the fight and eventually took the knife from Scott and put it in the vehicle.

Post Miranda, Scott reportedly said she cut the victim because the victim came to the vehicle to hit her.

A steak knife with blood on the blade was reportedly found on the floorboard of the vehicle, and Scott’s blood-stained shirt was reportedly found on the ground near the vehicle.

The victim was transported to an emergency room with non-life-threatening injuries.

Scott has no criminal convictions. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $2,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.