Deputies: Man detained, cut wife during relationship talk

A man was arrested in Gainesville on Saturday after deputies say he cut and stabbed his wife with a knife and held her down on a bed, preventing her from getting medical help as he cut his own arm, according to an Alachua County Sheriff ’s Office report.

The victim was taken to an area hospital, where she underwent surgery and survived.

Deputies said Michael James Reuschel, 62, was visiting his wife Friday evening in their shared residence to discuss their relationship after being separated for several months with each living in different counties.

Reuschel and the victim continued the discussion at a local restaurant where they began to argue vehemently early Saturday morning, at which point the victim ordered an Uber ride home.

After returning home, the victim went to a spare bedroom to avoid her husband, who arrived shortly after and continued the argument while the victim was lying in bed.

Deputies said Reuschel then leaped on top of the victim, pinning her down, before brandishing a knife and slashing at the victim’s right wrist, which began to bleed heavily. Reuschel continued to straddle the victim so that she couldn’t move as he stabbed her multiple times in the stomach, according to the report.

According to the report, the victim told Reuschel that he was going to kill her, to which he replied, “Yes, that’s exactly what I want to do.”

Deputies said Reuschel then put on clean clothes before attempting to stage the crime scene and before calling 911 to report that he woke up to discover his wife bleeding following her screams.