Hamner- Spracklen

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County woman is behind bars after allegedly throwing a knife at her neighbor and threatening to stab children.

Emily Hamner-Spracklen, 36, of Buckhannon, has been charged with malicious wounding.

According to the criminal complaint, Buckhannon detachment troopers with the West Virginia State Police investigated a stabbing report from Viorandy Lane in Buckhannon on Monday.

Officers spoke to Hamner-Spracklen, who said a neighbor “came in my yard and threatened to shoot me.” She also said she had thrown a knife at her neighbor because he “was pointing a gun and charging me in my yard.”

The alleged victim was “struck in the left abdomen” by the knife, leaving “a gash to his side,” the complaint states.

The alleged victim told officers his children were walking their dog when Hamner-Spracklen “came out of her residence brandishing a knife and threatening to stab them,” according to the complaint. He said he confronted her, and she began chasing him with the knife.  

He told police he then went into his home and returned outside with a gun, and told Hamner-Spracklen to drop the knife, the complaint states. She then allegedly threw the knife at him, and he “fired a shot” in her direction.

Officers said they observed cuts on the alleged victim’s abdomen and arm, according to the complaint. Police also observed a cell phone video allegedly showing Hamner-Spracklen standing in her yard brandishing a knife, yelling, “I got a f***ing knife, motherf***er. I’ll f***ing cut you!”

Police also allegedly watched a separate cell phone video of the knife assault.