Elderly Phoenix Man Arrested for Wife’s Stabbing Death After Claiming She Died by Suicide

A tragic and disturbing case has unfolded in Phoenix, Arizona, where an 83-year-old man, identified as Donald Cunningham, has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife and then falsely claiming that she had taken her own life. The incident occurred in their shared apartment near 19th Avenue and Camelback Road, and investigators believe the fatal attack took place between June 20 and June 23.

Cunningham called Phoenix police around 12:45 p.m. on June 23, reporting what he described as a suicide. He claimed his wife had stabbed him during an argument and then turned the knife on herself. According to his account, he had locked himself in the bathroom following the altercation. However, when officers arrived at the scene, they immediately noticed inconsistencies.

Police were initially unable to enter the apartment because the front door had been barricaded with kitchen furniture. Once inside, officers discovered blood throughout the apartment, raising doubts about the suicide claim. As they continued their search, they were alerted by a barking dog behind a locked bedroom door. When they forced entry, they found Cunningham lying on the bed, covered in blood, with jumper cables around his neck and a cut on his arm.

Cunningham was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment. During his stay, he repeated his earlier story, telling medical staff that his wife had stabbed him before fatally stabbing herself. However, no body had been recovered at that point. It wasn't until the following day, June 24, that the Arizona Humane Society was called to the residence to remove the dog from the apartment. When their team arrived, they discovered a deceased woman inside the bedroom.

Police were notified immediately, and officers returned to the scene. The woman's body, later confirmed to be Cunningham’s wife, was found lying on the floor between the bed and the wall. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to her head, face, eye, and torso, according to court documents. Cunningham was arrested upon his release from the hospital and taken to Phoenix police headquarters. He refused to speak with detectives during questioning and was subsequently booked on suspicion of second-degree murder.

As the investigation progressed, Cunningham’s son, Adrian Cunningham, provided crucial background information. He revealed that his father and stepmother had been married for 15 years after meeting in the Philippines. According to Adrian, the couple frequently argued, and those conflicts often escalated into physical violence. He specifically mentioned that tensions usually stemmed from Cunningham’s drug use, particularly methamphetamine, and his increasing frailty due to age.

Adrian also informed investigators that Cunningham had been arrested approximately three months earlier for allegedly assaulting his wife. The last time he saw her alive was on February 20, and he confirmed that she had no history of suicidal behavior. He returned to their apartment on February 23 but received no response at the door and had no contact with either of them after that date.

This deeply unsettling case continues to raise questions about the dynamics of domestic abuse in elderly relationships and the risks faced by vulnerable individuals behind closed doors. As Cunningham awaits legal proceedings, authorities continue to piece together the full circumstances that led to the fatal attack.