A Cheyenne woman is now charged with second-degree murder on claims she stabbed her husband in the gut, causing his death four days later.
Chantavia Renee Blanche, 24, could face between 20 years and life in prison if convicted. The Cheyenne Police Department on Tuesday announced that an aggravated assault charge filed against her was upgraded to second-degree murder after her husband died in the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
Brian Blanche, 38, had refused care when first interviewed at the alleged crime scene Jan. 18, but eventually went to the hospital for a surgery Jan. 21, and died the next morning, says an evidentiary affidavit filed in the case.
This case is somewhat unusual since investigators were able to interview the alleged murder victim after the attack but before his death.
CPD officers were dispatched Jan. 18 to an address on Dey Avenue for a report of an assault, says an evidentiary affidavit Cheyenne Police Detective Damon Hall compiled for the case.
Officer David Inman arrived and spoke with Chantavia Blanche, who said she and Brian had been having an argument that led to a physical altercation.
Chantavia said her husband had smothered her nose and mouth with his hand for 30-40 seconds. She broke free and went to the kitchen, where he pinned her against the counter, the woman said.
She was able to break free again, and he punched her in the face, Chantavia said.
That was when she grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the stomach, she said.
The affidavit makes a note that appears to counter this.
“Officer Inman was not able to find any physical marks of harm nor evidence on Chantavia to indicate a self-defense claim, nor to indicate she was assaulted or not able to breathe,” the document says.
Husband Says
Inman spoke with Brian Blanche, who also said the pair were arguing.
It turned physical when Chantavia grabbed a knife and started stabbing beer cans with it, the man said. He tried to get her to stop, and she threatened to kill him. He ended up in the bathroom, and she started stabbing the door before she broke it down by force.
Brian tried to get the knife away from her and his thumb was cut in the process, he said.
She stopped the attack for a moment, then stabbed him in the stomach, Brian added, according to the affidavit.
Investigators noted a cut on Brian’s thumb and a wound to his abdomen, plus puncture marks on the bathroom door, which was off its hinges.
These signs matched Brian’s statement, the affidavit says.
Two knives lay in the home; one was bloodied and the other had a partially-bent tip, says the document. Beer cans with puncture marks littered the home as well, it adds.
No Thanks
The affidavit says Brian initially declined treatment at the scene and refused to be taken to the hospital. He did go to the hospital Jan. 21 after experiencing complications from the stabbing. He had surgery that evening after medical personnel detected internal bleeding in his abdomen, says the document.
Records indicated the injury was from a presumed stab wound in his lower left belly, wrote the detective.
Brian was admitted to the intensive care unit and died amid signs of acute respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and hemorrhagic shock about 14 hours after surgery, at 8:01 a.m. Jan. 22, the document says.
Chantavia Blanche is set for a preliminary hearing Thursday in Cheyenne Circuit Court.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
