A Massachusetts man accused of trying to kill his ex-wife with an ax before setting her Norfolk house on fire faced a judge Thursday.
Allen Stotts, 71, told officers he tried using an axe to kill the woman at her River Road home Wednesday night, but missed, and resorted to lighting her home on fire.
The victim made two frantic 911 calls to police. In the first, the woman said her Stotts was trying to kill her and that she locked herself in the bathroom before the call was disconnected.
Two minutes later, a second 911 call was received from the frantic woman who was screaming that her ex had set the house on fire.
The victim was able to escape, unharmed and hid in a passerby's car until police arrived. Officers arrested Stotts in the driveway of that home. Firefighters were able out the flames, but heavy smoke, fire and water damage has made it unlivable.
According to court paperwork, Stotts allegedly told investigators "I got the ax and if she hadn't moved, I would have hit her with it, then torched the living room."
Police said Stotts revealed he tried to kill his ex-wife because she made him sleep on the living room floor without a mattress.
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He also allegedly said, "Something kept telling me this is the only way you'll get back at her."
Stotts was evaluated by a court psychiatrist, who told the court the defendant seemed unable to fully understand the severity of what happened.
He was ordered to be held without bail on numerous charges, including attempted murder, arson, intimidating a witness and assault with a deadly weapon. Stotts will be mentally evaluated again.
