By Sharon Coolidge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SOUTH FAIRMOUNT - A 32-year-old woman is accused of stabbing her husband to death this month while he slept, cleaning him, dressing him and propping him up in a chair.

Then Faye Harriel waited 12 hours and called paramedics to say her husband, Gregory Roaden, 41, wasn't breathing, according to Hamilton County prosecutors.

Four children under the age of 11 who lived in the home were asleep during the stabbing, authorities said.

"It's one of the strangest cases we've seen," Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen said.

The motive for the Jan. 16 killing is not known, Allen said.

A Hamilton County grand jury indicted Harriel on Monday on charges of aggravated murder and murder. She has been jailed since the night of the homicide, according to court records.

Neighbors told police they heard the couple arguing early the evening of Jan. 15, and later saw Roaden sitting on his front porch with scratches on his face.

About 1 a.m. Roaden was repeatedly stabbed with a steak knife, said Cincinnati Police Capt. Vince Demasi. There was evidence of a struggle, he said.

Prosecutors said the bedroom and the body were cleaned with bleach.

About 1 p.m. Harriel called paramedics and said her husband was unresponsive.

Paramedics said he was dead when they arrived and they alerted police that the death seemed suspicious. "She attempted to hide the death. I guess she thought the coroner wouldn't figure it out," Demasi said.

In late 2001, Harriel received a temporary restraining order against Roaden, after he was arrested on a charge of domestic violence, according to Hamilton County court records. A domestic violence charge was later dismissed.

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E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com