Charges: Man Stabbed Wife, A Veteran, Held Her Hostage

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- A St. Paul man is accused of assaulting his wife, who is an Iraq war veteran, threatening to kill her and holding her hostage for five days, according to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office.

Charlie Pearman Blackwell, 30, was charged with felony counts of kidnapping, second-degree assault, terroristic threats and domestic assault by strangulation.

According to the criminal complaint, police responded to the 1000 block of Hatch Avenue in St. Paul Saturday on the report of a woman stabbed and being held against her will. When they arrived, several attempts to announce their presence went ignored, so they gained entrance to the residence through the back patio door. They then located Blackwell and a 21-year-old woman on the floor of the living room.

Blackwell was taken into custody, while the woman was taken to Regions Hospital where she was treated for stab and puncture wounds.

In an interview at Regions, the woman told police that she is home on military leave from Iraq and that she is married to Blackwell. She said that on Jan. 17, Blackwell threatened to kill her because she asked him for a divorce. Blackwell also allegedly refused to let her leave or call anyone for help.

Then, on Jan. 20, the victim was strangled when she reiterated her desire for a divorce. Her breathing was restricted to a point where she became unconscious. When she woke up, he was allegedly slapping and kicking her, telling her to get up. He then grabbed a knife, held it to her throat and threatened to kill her. That's when he poked the knife into her upper left thigh, causing a puncture wound, the complaint said.

The next day, she repeatedly asked Blackwell to take her to the hospital. When he agreed, he allegedly tried to kill them both by running the car inside the garage while both were inside, inhaling the exhaust fumes. Eventually, Blackwell brought her back inside the house.

Later, the victim was able to alert police when she was allowed to call her sister.

If convicted of all charges, Blackwell could face more than 25 years in prison.