Man Who Served One Year For Stabbing Wife To Death Now Stabs Second Wife Nearly To Death

Who could have predicted?

One year. This was back in 1981-1983. This is the nonsense that helped elect Ronald Reagan.

Christine Groth, 53, was in critical condition last night at Grant Medical Center, where police said she had surgery for multiple stab wounds.

Mr. Groth, 67, was arrested at the home and charged with attempted murder.

"When officers arrived, she was coherent enough to say he stabbed her," said homicide detective Wayne Buck. "He said to the officers, 'What did I do?'"

For next-door neighbor Ralph Clark, it was a frustrating flashback to Dec. 16, 1981, when he watched as Groth was carried from the house after stabbing himself.

Police said Groth used a knife to kill his first wife, Eva, and cut their 13-year-old daughter's head. He then stabbed himself during a standoff with police.

"If they let him out this time, there's no justice," Clark said.

After recovering from his wounds, Groth was ruled incompetent to stand trial. Court records show that he was hospitalized until pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in July 1982. Sentenced to one to 10 years in prison, he was paroled in July 1983.

posted by Ace at 03:38 PM

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