Police: Husband stabbed wife to death in Bartow

BARTOW, Fla. - Police in Bartow said they're investigating a homicide that occurred early Saturday morning.

Investigators were called to the Peace River Village mobile home park around 5:45 a.m. Police said a woman, identified as 62-year-old Ruth Ann Silvers, was found dead in a bedroom of a home.

Terri Baldwin is a close friend of Silvers, and said she was worried something like this would happen.

"I told her a week ago, I said 'get away from him, he's going to kill you.' She said. 'well if he does, I'll be out of my misery,'" Baldwin recalled.

According to police, Silvers and her husband, 67-year-old Alston Frank Farris, had been arguing about the custody of their disabled adult daughter, who lived with the couple.

Baldwin said Silvers had planned to turn over custody of her daughter to the state -- something she said Farris opposed.

Detectives said Farris went into the bedroom and stabbed Silvers numerous times, then called 911 to report what he had done.

Farris has been charged with first-degree murder.

"It's really sad honestly. It's really sad. You never hear of anything like that happened here," neighbor Jacqueline Rodriguez said.

The couple's daughter has been transferred to protective care due to her disabilities. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Bartow police at 863-534-5034, or Crime Stoppers at 800-226-TIPS (8477).