Lauren Ashley Fullerton (Guilford County Sheriff’s Office)
A 38-year-old woman in North Carolina has been arrested after she alleged killed a man and his cat, stabbing the man and feline multiple times.
Lauren Ashley Fullerton was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the slaying of 59-year-old Todd Allen Arnold, authorities announced.
In addition to the murder charge, Fullerton was also charged with one count of felony cruelty to animals.
According to a news release from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, deputies at about 9:20 p.m. on May 30 responded to a call at a residence located in the 300 block of Venus Drive in Greensboro, North Carolina. The home is about 75 miles west of Raleigh.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders located an adult male — later identified as Arnold — who appeared to have suffered multiple stab wound to his torso along with other various injuries. Arnold was pronounced dead on the scene.
In addition to Arnold, authorities said they also discovered a cat on the property which had also been fatally stabbed.
“As a result of the investigation, 38-year-old Lauren Ashley Fullerton was charged with 1st Degree Murder and Felony Cruelty to Animals,” the release states. “The Felony Cruelty to Animals charge was a result of an animal on the property also being found deceased during the investigation.”
Fullerton is currently being held at the Guilford County Detention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by High Point, North Carolina Fox affiliate WGHP, the initial 911 call was placed by Fullerton, who mentioned something about drugs being used on the premises at the Venus Drive home. She reportedly called the emergency number four times, at least once speaking about fentanyl being on the premises before telling the dispatcher that she had stabbed someone.
The report states that when she spoke to deputies, Fuller claimed that Arnold attempted to perform a sex act with her and she then stabbed him and then his cat.
However, the responding deputies reportedly also noted that Arnold appeared to have been dead for several days — during which time Fullerton had been staying at the residence, the sheriff’s office said. In addition to the stab wounds, deputies also noted that Arnold suffered blunt force trauma to his head, Greensboro, North Carolina CBS affiliate WFMY reported.
The relationship between Fuller and Arnold is not clear, nor did authorities speak about why she may have been at his residence or a motive for the alleged stabbing.
The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a message from Law&Crime seeking additional information on the case.
Fullerton is currently being held in the Guilford County Jail without bond, records show. She is currently scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 1.
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