Gray Road attempted murder defendant appears for preliminary hearing on December 2nd

GILLETTE, Wyo. — A man accused of trying to murder his girlfriend by slitting her throat with a box cutter will appear at a preliminary hearing next week, Campbell County court records say.

Edward W. Rusher, 47, is charged with attempted second-degree murder and domestic violence. Prosecutors allege he slit a 52-year-old woman’s throat with a box cutter on Nov. 21, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The alleged assault occurred on Gray Road east of Gillette just before 7 p.m. According to the affidavit, officers responded to the residence after receiving a notification from Crook County about a dropped phone call in which a woman claimed her throat had been slit.

When they arrived, officers found the woman with a cut on her neck, a blood-soaked rag, a door ripped off its hinges and an overturned dresser. The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment and identified Rusher as her attacker, the affidavit said.

She later told officers about an argument between Rusher and herself after she allegedly confronted him about possible infidelity. He allegedly took her phone and broke it before throwing objects at her. According to the affidavit, Rusher followed her as she retreated to a bedroom.

According to the woman’s report, Rusher kicked the closed door and threw other objects at her. As she fell to the floor, he stood over her and pulled a box cutter out of his pocket.

The affidavit says Rusher told the woman he planned to take her life before allegedly cutting her throat with the box cutter. However, the woman fought back “with everything she had” and managed to put Rusher in a headlock. She released him before he lost consciousness, causing him to flee.

Gillette police officers found Rusher on Dogwood Avenue. He had blood on his face and initially lied about its origin, telling officers he had caused a car accident. He then changed his story and said he didn’t know where the blood came from, the affidavit states.

Rusher admitted to arguing with the woman earlier in the day. He claimed that the argument was over his refusal to have sexual intercourse with her. He denied harming the woman and suggested they had “clubbed” themselves, according to the affidavit.

When investigators also told him he could be charged with aggravated assault, Rusher asked why they weren’t charging him with attempted murder and said they should, the affidavit said.

Court documents say Rusher will appear at a preliminary hearing on Dec. 2, where a judge will decide whether there is sufficient probable cause to send the case to district court for further proceedings. According to the Wyoming State Statute, attempted second-degree murder is punishable by a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.