MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (WTHR) - The estranged wife of Morgan County Sheriff Robert Downey is held in the Owen County Jail on charges that include attempted murder of her husband.
Jacquelyn Downey was arrested in the early morning hours of Memorial Day after allegedly breaking into her former home armed with a handgun.
The probable cause affidavit says Sheriff Downey heard a loud banging on the front door about 1:30 a.m. followed by the sound of breaking window glass.
"She entered through a locked window," said Indiana State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil. "Investigators found that she busted through the window, which caused her to become hurt physically, a lot of blood. She came through the window armed with a firearm."
The sheriff says he confronted Jacquelyn in the kitchen, where she pointed a gun at him with her finger on the trigger and threatened to kill him.
"A struggle ensued," said Durnil. "She was able to get away from the Morgan County Sheriff. She took off out the doorway. Ended up, Sheriff Downey was able to subdue her, handcuff her until other law enforcement arrived."
No shots were fired. The sheriff eventually was able to handcuff one of his wife's arms to the rail on the front porch. The sheriff told investigators the couple is in the process of a divorce filed about two years ago.
Jacquelyn Downey, 51, is charged with attempted murder, two counts of intimidation, criminal recklessness and domestic battery – all felonies. She also faces misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and harassment.
Teresa Ham hid in the master bedroom during the home invasion and called 911. She told investigators that Jacquelyn was yelling that she knew Teresa was in the bedroom and said she was going to kill her. Ham said she has been receiving harassing text messages and phone calls. Ham says Jacquelyn had been accusing her of having an affair for years with Sheriff Downey.
Jacquelyn is the owner and operator of Win Fit personal safety and self-defense training for women, based in Greenwood. The sheriff says during the struggle for the gun he was scratched, bitten and spit on in his face.
Jacquelyn was taken to a hospital to treat her cuts, then was processed at the Morgan County Jail. She refused to be interviewed by state police detectives, who were called in to handle the investigation.
"Anytime where something happens like this where an official of the county is involved, especially a law enforcement official, we want to make sure there's no conflict of interest involved where somebody might say, 'The sheriff's department is investigating this. They must be biased one way or the other.' We don't want that to happen, so state police is going to take the investigation," said Durnil.
Jacquelyn was transferred to the Owen County Jail because of her relationship with the Morgan County sheriff. The case will likely be handled by a special prosecutor outside Morgan County as well.