Police: Man admitted to attacking ex-wife with ax, setting house on fire

NORFOLK, Mass. — A Norfolk man is facing multiple charges after allegedly setting his house on fire while his wife was inside.

Police were called to a home on River Road just after 4 p.m. when a woman reported that her ex-husband was trying to kill her.

>> Scroll down to hear the 911 call

The woman said she had locked herself in the bathroom, but then her phone got disconnected. Two minutes later she called back and said her ex had set the house on fire.

"My house is on fire! My house is on fire and my husband is here and I’m afraid he's going to kill me! Please hurry," the victim said on a 911 call.

Police responded and found the suspect, identified as 71-year-old Allen Stotts, standing in the driveway holding an ax.

Police said Stotts admitted he tried to kill the victim with the ax but missed, so he then set the house on fire with gasoline.

The ex-wife was able to escape without injury and wait in a passing driver's car while emergency responders arrived.

Stotts was arrested at the scene and is charged with attempted homicide, arson of a dwelling, intimidation of a witness, assault with a dangerous weapon on an elderly victim and malicious destruction of property.

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