Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Stabbing Estranged Husband While Bubble-Wrapped

A Los Altos woman in September at the business they owned in Redwood City pleaded not guilty Thursday to attempted murder charges, prosecutors said.

Laura Jean Wenke, 50, was arrested following the Sept. 15 stabbing at the business in the first block of Laurel Street.

Wenke and the 48-year-old victim had an 8-year-old son together and were going through a bitter divorce in which Wenke was allegedly unhappy that the victim had a new girlfriend, San Mateo County prosecutors said.

She showed up at the business around 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 dressed in a mechanics jumpsuit and had bubble wrap around her body underneath the clothing, according to the district attorney's office.

The victim was sitting at his computer when Wenke approached, discharged a stun gun into his side then stabbed him several times in the chest and neck, prosecutors said.

Officers responded and found the victim, who was taken to a hospital where he remained for several days to be treated for his serious injuries.

He had a $2 million life insurance policy for which Wenke was still listed as the beneficiary at the time of the attack, according to the district attorney's office.

Wenke was found at the business by police responding to the stabbing and was arrested.

She was charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and other offenses and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Wenke remains in jail without bail and will return to court on Nov. 10 for a bail hearing and to set a preliminary hearing date, prosecutors said.

--Bay City News