Background: William Feather appears for an arraignment in Cuyahoga County court (WKYC/YouTube). Inset: Michele L. Charboneau Feather (Liston Funeral Home).
A man in Ohio was bloodied-up from hurting his wife at their home when he responded to a question about whether she'd fallen by saying there was "no domestic violence," authorities say.
William Feather, 65, faces a charge of murder in the death of his wife, 57-year-old Michele Charboneau Feather, as well as felonious assault, tampering with evidence, and domestic violence, according to Cuyahoga County court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
During his arraignment on Tuesday, the defendant pleaded not guilty, and he is being held on $1 million bond.
On July 17 at about 10 a.m., William Feather apparently called 911 to report that his wife was unresponsive at their home on the 1600 block of Canterbury Road in Westlake, Ohio. The suburban city is located just west of Cleveland.
"I need some help here," the defendant told dispatchers, per local NBC affiliate WKYC. "My wife. I'm very concerned about her."
"She's not breathing well," he reportedly added. "She's not responsive at all. … something's really bad happening here."
First responders arrived at the home and rushed the woman to a nearby hospital in "very serious condition." Michele Feather was apparently only wearing a shirt and had bruises on her torso and markings on her legs.
She was later pronounced dead.
Officers with the Westlake Police Department also went inside the home. They said they found "blood on the floor that went throughout the house," according to a report obtained by the TV station, as well as a bloody mop and bloody paper towels in a trash bin.
Officers spoke with William Feather, who told them he woke up to find his wife unconscious, WKYC reported. When a firefighter asked whether the victim had fallen recently, the defendant allegedly replied, "No, no domestic violence, nothing of that sort."
William Feather had dried blood under his fingernails and a fresh scratch on his face, which he blamed on shaving, according to area CBS affiliate WOIO. He was arrested.
Police are said to have responded to the home previously over allegations of domestic violence, with four calls made between 2021 and 2026.
The defendant is expected back in court on Sept. 1.
Michele Feather is remembered in her obituary as having been "a lifelong resident of Westlake, where she built a life centered around family and friendship." She had a son and "loved gardening, birdwatching, tending to her countless house plants, spending time with friends and family, and especially going to the beach."