Man indicted in wife's stabbing death

CLEVELAND - The man accused in the stabbing death of an area marriage counselor has been indicted on several charges.

A grand jury indicted 38-year-old Maurice Lyons on charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, child endangering, tampering with evidence, misuse of credit cards, domestic violence, disrupting public service, intimidation of a crime victim and telecommunications harassment.

Prosecutors said Lyons stabbed his wife, 42-year-old Tonya Hunter, 17 times on July 25. He also stole her car and credit cards, before driving away with her 4-year-old son, according to Cuyahoga County prosecutors. The boy was later dropped in the middle of the street near East 28th Street and Cedar Road in Cleveland.

Prosecutors said prior to Tonya Hunter’s death, Maurice Lyons assaulted his wife and told her not to call police on July 13. Days later, Lyons again assaulted his wife and continued to threaten her in the days leading to her murder, prosecutors said.

Maurice Lyons could face the death penalty.