A 64-year-old Augusta man accused of stabbing his wife to death more than two years ago pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter.
Charles Perez said he still doesn't remember what happened June 7, 2007, at the Richmond Hill Road home he shared with his wife, Deborah, 57. But he told a sheriff's investigator that if Mrs. Perez was dead he must have been responsible, Assistant District Attorney John Manly told the judge Monday.
Although he was charged with murder, Mr. Perez pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to the lesser offense of manslaughter. Judge Sheryl B. Jolly imposed the maximum sentence, 20 years in prison.
Mr. Perez had a history of falling into a confused state when his diabetes got out of control, said defense attorney Michael Garrett. Mr. Perez, who had no prior criminal conviction, accepted full responsibility for his wife's death, Mr. Garrett said.
Mrs. Perez's daughter Nora McKnight said Monday that diabetes was not an excuse because Mr. Perez knew what happened when he did not eat and drink properly. He had a history of being overly controlling and verbally abusive to her mother, Mrs. McKnight said. She said she and her siblings had asked their mother to leave Mr. Perez numerous times.
Mr. Perez was stopped the morning of June 7, 2007, by Medical College of Georgia police officers for driving erratically, the prosecutor said. He had his wife's life insurance card.
When Mrs. McKnight was called by the hospital where Mr. Perez was admitted, she couldn't get her mother on the telephone and learned Mrs. Perez had not shown up for work that morning. Mrs. McKnight found her mother's body in bed with the covers pulled up to her chin. Mrs. Perez suffered a stab wound to her chest.
Mr. Perez put the knife he used back in the proper place in the kitchen and locked the door before leaving that day.
Mr. Perez said Monday that no matter what his stepchildren said he loved his wife very much.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Loved her to death.
Oh i see,my diabetes acted up. I blinked out and killed my wife. Sure it did.
Unless you've been around someone who is a diabetic and their sugar gets out of wack, don't be so quick to dismiss it stovall st. Personality changes and normal behavior is out the window. This does not excuse the man who killed his wife but what normal killer would pull the covers up to his wife's chin after he's stabbed her in the chest and replace the knife he used back in it's proper place in the kitchen. I feel for this daughter and her siblings and even though Mr. Perez has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, that won't bring her mother back. Why people don't take better care of their health issues when they know what the result is if they dont, is beyond me.
Another weak excuse used by these sleazy lawyers trying to get a murderer free. Pills, alcohol, diabetic, insanity, mental illness, etc. should not be an excuse or reason for murder. These people need to go to jail for murder!!
Its not an excuse but InChrist is correct. I am a Type 1 diabetic which means I am insulin dependent and to make it worse I am 34 weeks pregnant. I have been beating the hell out of my husband the whole pregnancy. When I don't take my medicine I get confused, aggrivated, really thirsty, and dizzy. My personality changes and then after I try to fight him I just break down and cry. This man clearly had a mental switch and did something that he remembers but chooses not to. I don't think it is possible for your diabetes to get that out of control to kill someone. He already had a history of violence and abuse so it just escalated. Yeah he deserves the sentence he recieved.
The so-called "history of falling into a confused state" identifies this man as a non-minority because that defense doesn't work for minorities. In fact, who provided the proof that such events actually happened. It probably was a friend or witness who offered statements referencing confusion, however, someone BELIEVED those people. It just don't happen that way for minorities, because of a failure of trust. The Question: What was the relationship before the stabbing? Again, depends on whom U trust or believe. The judge obviously believed him.
justus4, it worked for the young girl that killed her two children in the restroom (can't remember her name) but I do believe she was a "minority". Is she serving time in jail?? No
I've been a type 1, insulin dependent diabetic since 1970. For 48 years, I've never turned violent when having an insulin reaction (low blood sugar). This is a crock that this man is blaming diabetes low blood sugar for the murder of his wife.
Just because you have never had a bad reaction to low or high blood sugar doesn't mean it doesn't happen greenjacket. You've probably been able to maintain your diabetes, and that's wonderful, but there are people out there that don't monitor their sugar like they should and their personality changes drastically when their blood sugar is out of whack.
OMG justus4 finally got a post removed. Wish's do come true!!
MsAlexis? You get violent when you don't take your medicine? You are going to take care of an infant? Really?
i;m a diabetic and a low or high blood sugar want make you kill someone .geez.what next self defense rape-iwant to see someone use thta excuse
I know the ADA who was quoted in this article, and from what I know about the guy, I imagine there were probably some shenanigans going on with this case. He's about as shady as it gets. I think he might have even killed Jimmy Hoffa.