MOHAVE COUNTY — The victim of a horrific stabbing in Fort Mohave told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen that Wesley Millican made her life a “living hell” during a November 14 sentencing hearing in Kingman.
The 43-year old woman spent 15 minutes detailing how Wesley Millican, 41, lived off her earnings without working, stole money from her, and essentially commanded her obedience through systematic physical abuse and threats.
Previous abuse of the same victim prompted Millican’s arrest in May. A plea deal resulted in probation and Millican spent 65 days in jail before he was released on July 14. Just two days later he entered the victim’s home at 1732 E. La Entrada Drive and busted through a door to gain access to the woman who retreated within a bedroom.
Deputy Mohave County attorney Karolina Czaplinska said Millican brutally assaulted her with a large carving knife he grabbed from the kitchen.
“He very slowly, methodically drives that knife through her neck,” Czaplinksa said, noting her vocal chords were severed. She told the Court the defendant then hovered over her and screamed at her to die.
“You died ha, ha,” Millican shouted, the victim told Judge Jantzen. “How does it feel? Do you like it?…I told you I would kill you.”
Czaplinksa said the event captured on video is as, or more, gruesome than any crime scene or autopsy she has endured in her near 12-year career.
“When I first saw that video in this case I had to ask the detective to pause it, so I could step away,” Czaplinska said. “I can’t fathom the anguish that she went through in those moments, worried that her baby would be attacked next.”
The baby was unharmed when dropped as her father stabbed her mother.
The victim said Millican threatened to “smoke this baby”, but that she felt she was dying and had no choice but to dash out the door when provided an opportunity.
“I escaped with an eight-inch knife protruding through my neck,” the victim said.
A barricade situation ensued before Millican surrendered, requiring treatment for self-inflicted injuries. The victim was flown to Las Vegas for emergency care.
Judge Jantzen imposed the 19.25-year prison term mandated in a plea agreement resulting in convictions for attempted second degree murder and endangerment.
Jantzen expressed regret when reflecting upon his decision to place Millican on probation in the first case, an event during which the defendant threatened to douse the woman with WD-40 and set her on fire to burn her alive.
“I almost feel responsible…You didn’t follow probation for a minute and here we are,” Jantzen lamented. He agreed with Czaplinska’s assessment that Millican’s anger and violence were sadistic and depraved.
“This stands out as the most severe and most diabolical type case that I’ve seen in my career (31 years),” Jantzen said, five months from retirement.
Millican declined his opportunity to address the Court during the hearing. But he berated the victim in a verbal tirade as he was escorted away.
