Lawrence Co. Man Allegedly Attacked Wife With Machete

EDINBURG (KDKA) -- An ordained minister from Lawrence County is facing charges after he allegedly attacked his wife with a machete.

Just before 6 a.m. Saturday, State police in Edinburg arrested 26-year-old Charles Michael Cook for criminal attempted homicide.

Neighbors say they heard Cook yelling at his wife, 47-year-old Virginia Cook, and heard him making strange sounds that morning.

Cook is accused of attacking his wife with a knife, machete and a hammer.

According to the criminal complaint, Cook allegedly admitted to causing his wife's injuries and claimed that he had been possessed by Satan at the time.

Before police arrived, Cook called his mother, Sandy Cook.

"He thinks in his mind – he thinks it was a demon that did it," she told KDKA-TV.

Cook is ordained in the Universal Life Church, according to a website.

His mother told KDKA-TV that Cook is bipolar and often doesn't remember what he does.

She says he doesn't remember the attack on his wife. She also said her son is mentally ill and they tried to get him committed to a facility last month, but were unsuccessful.

Virginia Cook suffered several stab wounds and a collapsed lung. She has been released from a Pittsburgh hospital.

Her husband will be arraigned when he leaves a New Castle hospital.