By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Vickie Louise Wooldridge

WARSAW — A woman found guilty of killing a Warsaw man and attacking two others will be sentenced at 8:15 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Vickie Louise Wooldridge, 45, 19 M Dee Acres, Nappanee, was found guilty of murder, a felony; attempted murder, a level 1 felony; aggravated battery and attempted criminal confinement, both level 3 felonies; and battery while armed with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony.

Wooldridge could face anywhere from 45 to 65 years in prison on the murder charge.

On Dec. 15, 2020, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies went to a Warsaw residence on Westside Drive regarding a report of a stabbing incident. A woman at the home, Diane Burr, said Wooldridge had stabbed her husband, Bill Burr; and son, Matthew Lucas. Diane gave officers a description of Wooldridge.

According to court documents, officers found Bill seriously injured in a living room. He had suffered at least one stab wound to the chest. Officers also found Lucas, 42, Warsaw, in a bedroom. Lucas had multiple stab wounds to his neck, face and chest, and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office.

Bill was airlifted from the scene to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne for medical treatment.

Officers spoke with Diane, who said she heard yelling in her residence. Bill told her he was yelling downstairs to Wooldridge and Lucas, who were arguing. A short time later, Diane heard more screaming and entered the living room, where she saw Wooldridge attacking Bill. Diane attempted to pull Wooldridge off of Bill when Wooldridge started attacking her.

Wooldridge hit Diane in the face. As Diane attempted to flee, Wooldridge tried multiple times to pull Diane back into the residence to stop her from leaving. Court documents state Diane required medical attention due to facial injuries, cuts to her hands and a loss of teeth from the attack.

Diane died from COVID-19 on Dec. 28, 2020, about two weeks after Lucas’ death.

An officer spoke with Bill, who said he heard yelling coming from downstairs, where Lucas and Wooldridge were at. He asked the two if everything was all right. Wooldridge said everything was fine.

Bill said a short time later, Wooldridge emerged from the basement, came up behind him and stabbed him in the chest while he was sitting in a chair. Bill yelled for Diane, who attempted to intervene. After Diane was safely out of the residence, Bill got a hold of Wooldridge’s weapon. Wooldridge then fled on foot.

Officers spent several hours searching the area for Wooldridge. A passerby reported seeing Wooldridge hiding in a dumpster several miles from the home. The passerby asked Wooldridge what was happening, at which time she got out of the dumpster and was taken into custody by law enforcement.

Wooldridge was found guilty by a 12-person jury on Aug. 11.