A 54-year-old Oregon man has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for brutally stabbing his wife and killing her dog within weeks after being freed on bond for a previous domestic violence strangling case. Prosecutors said the man blamed his wife for his previous arrest before launching the brutal attack.
The Incident: Attack After Release on Bond
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According to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, Mark Fox of Salem was free on bond for strangling his wife during a domestic dispute in October 2023 when he assaulted her again the following month.
On October 9, 2023, Fox’s wife messaged a friend, expressing her concern about her husband’s intoxicated and hostile conduct. The acquaintance called the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and deputies came to the couple’s house. They discovered the woman obviously terrified and covered in bruises.
“She described being held so tightly by the defendant that her ability to breathe was blocked,” prosecutors wrote.
Fox was arrested and charged with strangulation, assault, and criminal use of a weapon. The state demanded a $25,000 bond, but a judge released him on a no-contact order and a restraining order to protect the victim.
The Second Attack: “Why Did You Do This to Me?”
Just one month later, on November 8, 2023, Fox violated the injunction with a violent and calculated attack.
Deputies were sent back to the home in early November after receiving allegations of a violent incident. They arrived to find the woman bleeding in the driveway, with many stab wounds to her torso.
According to authorities, the woman informed investigators that she was on the phone with her mother when Fox broke into her home. He allegedly exclaimed that he “wasn’t going to prison” and blamed his previous detention on his wife.
“Victim’s mother heard the confrontation over the phone and called 911 after hearing her daughter yell, ‘Stop! Stop!’ while the defendant’s voice could be heard saying, ‘Why did you do this to me?’” prosecutors said.
Fox apparently arrived prepared to cause significant harm, packing duct tape, zip ties, and a hunting knife. Investigators say he tied up the woman, threatened to cut off her ear, and repeatedly stabbed her before leaving when he heard police sirens.
Investigation and Evidence Collected
Responding deputies discovered Fox nearby with many self-inflicted stab wounds, indicating an attempted suicide. Inside the home, they found several stab wounds on the victim’s dog. The animal was brought to a nearby veterinarian but died as a result of its injuries.
The sufferer, although gravely injured, survived after being transported to a local hospital for emergency surgery.
Investigators eventually revealed that Fox had planned the attack and had instruments to confine and torment his wife. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office described the case as a deliberate act of domestic terrorism with clear intent to murder.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Mark Fox pleaded guilty to multiple felony offenses, including:
- Second-degree attempted murder
- First-degree aggravated assault
- Aggravated animal abuse
- Violation of a restraining order
During sentencing, the judge described the attack as “premeditated and cruel beyond comprehension,” noting that Fox’s previous release directly endangered the victim.
Fox was sentenced to 20 years and one month in jail under Oregon’s Measure 11 sentencing guidelines, which require a minimum prison term for severe crimes.
According to the Salem Reporter, Fox ran a construction company at the time of his arrest and had no prior felony convictions prior to the domestic violence accusations.
Reactions and Community Response
The case reignited debate in Oregon about bond release policies in domestic violence cases. Advocates have challenged the court’s decision to release Fox following his initial arrest, claiming that judicial discretion frequently puts victims at risk.
According to a spokeswoman from the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, the victim had “extraordinary courage” throughout the incident and is still recovering from both physical and emotional damage.
Domestic violence advocates have urged the state to improve protective measures and conduct risk assessments before releasing alleged abusers on bond.
Background and Broader Context
Oregon law enables judges to give conditional release in domestic violence cases, but some argue Fox’s discharge was a terrible example of the system failing to protect victims.
According to national statistics, more than 40% of women killed in domestic violence had previously filed restraining orders against their attackers. Advocates warn that early intervention and enforcement of no-contact orders are critical to averting future violence.
