MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mercer County woman is behind bars following a violent early-morning custody dispute that ended in bloodshed, shattered glass, and a swift arrest.
Around 4:15 a.m. on May 12, 2025, deputies with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call reporting a custody disturbance at a home on Beeson Road. While en route, dispatchers informed officers that the suspect had forcibly entered the residence — and reportedly slashed her own son’s throat.  It ended being the ex-husband’s throat.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered a chaotic and bloody scene. Inside the home, a male victim was found clutching a towel to his neck, soaked in blood. Nearby, a woman lay face down, still holding a knife. Deputies ordered her to drop the weapon and placed her under arrest without further incident.
The suspect was identified as Deanna Proffitt, who told deputies she was there to retrieve her children. However, according to the residents, Proffitt did not have custody and had no right to be at the home.
A broken window and scattered furniture inside suggested a violent forced entry and struggle. Blood was found on the carpet and throughout the living room.
According to witness statements, Proffitt knocked on the door, and when the male occupant refused to let her in, she smashed a window and climbed inside. Once in the home, she allegedly attacked the man with a razor knife, cutting his arm and stabbing him in the neck. The man managed to subdue her until help arrived.
A second witness, who called 911, told deputies she saw Proffitt approach the home with another man armed with a gun. That individual reportedly remained outside during the incident.
Proffitt, who has a documented history of mental health issues, sustained minor injuries during the scuffle and was taken to Princeton Community Hospital for treatment before being booked.
She now faces multiple felony charges, including:
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Burglary
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Attempt to Commit First-Degree Murder
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Malicious Assault
