DSP News Release: Millsboro Man Held in Attempted Murder Investigation

Location:

·         22000 block Cedar Lane Georgetown, De

DATE and TIME:  

·         August 9, 2011 1:00 a.m.

Victim(s):

·         31 year old Georgetown woman

Defendant(s) Charge(s) and Bond Information:

·        James W. Patterson-39 Millsboro, De

·         Attempted Murder Second Degree

·         Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony

·         Terroristic Threatening

·         Assault Third Degree

·         Criminal Contempt Condition of Sentence

·         Sussex Correctional Institute $132,000 cash bond

 Resume:

Georgetown-State Police Detectives Wednesday August 10, 2011 charged James W. Patterson-39 of Millsboro with Attempted Murder, Possession of a Deadly Weapon, Terroristic Threatening, Assault and Criminal Contempt after conducting a domestic violence investigation. 

The investigation revealed that Patterson and his girlfriend the 31 year old victim were involved in a domestic altercation around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning August 9^th. 

The victim and Patterson were involved in a verbal argument near a wooded area off of Cedar Lane in close proximity to the victim’s residence.  Patterson during the altercation began striking the victim about the face numerous times. 

Patterson next produced a hypodermic syringe filled with a combination of hair dye and ammonia and injected the substance into the victim’s hand and neck. 

The victim suffered swelling and bruising to her face as well as unspecified injuries received from the injection.  The victim was flown to Christiana Hospital and is currently in critical condition.

A subsequent investigation into the incident disclosed Patterson is currently serving a level 3 sentence as a result of a previous assault against the same victim last year.  A condition of that sentence was for Patterson not to have any contact with the victim. 

Wednesday August 10^th around 7:30 p.m. the Sussex County Governor’s Task Force took Patterson into custody after he was observed driving on Longneck Road Longneck Delaware.  Patterson was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institute in lieu of $132,000 cash bond.