FAIRFIELD — Police say a Fairfield man tried to set his estranged wife’s house on fire before he fatally stabbed himself in front of police early Christmas morning.
Police tell the Portland Press Herald that 63-year-old Terry Whitney was charged with criminal mischief and domestic violence assault on Oct. 31 and had been under a court order to stay away from and stop abusing his wife.
Authorities say shortly after midnight Sunday Whitney went to the home he had shared with his wife, cut the power, and set fire to his truck and the house.
His wife called police and escaped the house, uninjured.
Police confronted Whitney, who ran to the back of the house. Officers twice deployed Tasers.
They say Whitney then pulled out a knife and cut himself. He was taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries.
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