Ohio Man Charged with Murder After Wife Dies, Told Responders "No Domestic Violence"

William Feather, 65, of Westlake, Ohio, faces murder and assault charges after his wife Michele died following a 911 call. He had blood on his hands but denied violence.

Ohio Husband Charged with Murder After Wife Dies Following 911 Call

William Feather, 65, of Westlake, Ohio, has been charged with murder in the death of his wife, Michele Charboneau Feather, 57, after telling a firefighter at the scene "no domestic violence, nothing of that sort," according to Law & Crime, which reviewed Cuyahoga County court records.

Feather also faces charges of felonious assault, tampering with evidence, and domestic violence. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Tuesday and is being held on $1 million bond. He is expected back in court on Sept. 1.

On July 17 at approximately 10 a.m., Feather called 911 to report that his wife was unresponsive at their home on the 1600 block of Canterbury Road in Westlake, a suburban city just west of Cleveland. "I need some help here," he told dispatchers, per local NBC affiliate WKYC. "My wife. I'm very concerned about her." He added that she was not breathing well and was completely unresponsive.

First responders rushed Michele Feather to a nearby hospital in very serious condition. She was found wearing only a shirt and had bruises on her torso and markings on her legs.

Officers with the Westlake Police Department entered the home and found blood on the floor throughout the house, along with a bloody mop and bloody paper towels in a trash bin, according to a report obtained by WKYC. When a firefighter asked whether the victim had recently fallen, William Feather allegedly replied, "No, no domestic violence, nothing of that sort."

Officers noted that Feather had dried blood under his fingernails and a fresh scratch on his face, which he attributed to shaving, according to area CBS affiliate WOIO. He was arrested at the scene.

Police had previously responded to the home over domestic violence allegations, with four calls made between 2021 and 2026.

Michele Feather is remembered in her obituary as a lifelong resident of Westlake who built her life around family and friendship. She had a son and was said to have loved gardening, birdwatching, tending to houseplants, and spending time at the beach.

Source: Law & Crime