A Polk State College professor is facing charges after deputies said she tried to suffocate her husband, who is disabled.
Cherry Olds, 59, is facing charges of second-degree murder and abuse on a disabled adult.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Olds’ adult son called deputies on Oct. 1 to report that his father was the victim of an attempted murder. His father, identified as James Olds, 57, is a paraplegic, has multiple sclerosis, is bedridden and cannot defend himself from a physical attack, deputies said.
Deputies said that when they spoke to James Olds, he told them that Cherry Olds held a pillow over his face and tried to suffocate him twice on Sept. 30.
According to the PCSO report, after the first attempt, James Old said he yelled, “You almost killed me!” to which Cherry Olds responded with, “That’s the point [expletive]!” and tried to put the pillow over his face again.
During the second attempt, James Olds turned his head to the side so he could breathe. The son heard the altercation and ran into the room, and he thinks he kept his mother from harming his father.
Cherry Olds was not at the residence when deputies arrived. Deputies obtained a warrant for her arrest, and she turned herself in at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday.
Polk State College has been placed Olds on administrative leave pending the outcome of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigation. Her classes have been assigned to other instructors and students are being notified of this change. Olds has been an employee of the College since August 2002.
Olds remains in jail without bond.