Judge sets bail at $500,000 for 79-year-old man accused of trying to kill his wife

A Thurston County Superior Court judge set bail at $500,000 Monday for a 79-year-old man who is accused of attempting to kill his wife Sunday morning.

Judge Chris Lanese found probable cause for charges of first-degree attempted murder, as well as domestic violence and second-degree assault against Catalino Delgado, who appeared in court Monday with public defender Jenna Norden.

Thurston County Deputy Prosecutor Craig Juris argued for the high bail. He acknowledged that Delgado has no prior criminal history, but he raised concerns about the safety of the victim and witnesses.

Public defender Norden suggested bail of $25,000. She pointed out that Delgado is nearly 80 years old, has no criminal history, has spent nearly 40 years in Washington state, and retired from the Air Force. Based on pre-trial screening information, Delgado also was rated "low risk," she said.

He also has numerous health conditions and medications, Norden added.

However, Judge Lanese called the allegations "deeply disturbing." He agreed with the state's bail request as well as no contact and no harassment orders for Delgado's wife and children.

According to charging documents:

About 10:30 a.m. Sunday in the 7800 block of Royal Oakes Drive Southeast, in northeast Thurston County, a daughter suddenly overheard her mother yell, "He's got a knife, get off of me."

The daughter, who said she's never heard her mother scream like that before, ran to her parents' bedroom and saw her father "holding a large butcher knife above his head."

Before the daughter could grab the knife, he began to stab his wife in a downward motion from above his head, with the knife entering his wife's "upper chest/arm area."

The daughter and a sister struggled with their father and eventually were able to get the knife away from him.

The mother, who was treated by medics at the scene, said her husband recently had been hospitalized for erratic behavior. He also had complained about a "conspiracy" at home, fearing that he would be taken away.

Before the stabbing, the man allegedly had said to her, "You're behind this conspiracy, I want you gone."

After Thurston County Sheriff's deputies arrived, the man said that he and his wife have been married for 40 years. He couldn't explain what happened and he said he had never before wanted to hurt his wife.

Arraignment is set for July 10.

This story was originally published June 25, 2018 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Judge sets bail at $500,000 for 79-year-old man accused of trying to kill his wife."