Man says wife was punched and strangled by ghost

A Fond du Lac man was arrested after he told police a “ghost” punched and strangled his wife. Michael F. West, 41, of 281 Fond du Lac Ave., was charged Wednesday with strangulation and misdemeanors of battery, disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing an officer.

At about 8 p.m. on Jan. 15, police arrived at West’s home to find the woman crying and bleeding from her nose. According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint: The woman was upset after West blamed her for the house being foreclosed. When the woman pointed out that she works while West sits on the couch, he became angry.



West strangled the woman twice. He then told her to call the police. As she went to grab the phone, West punched her repeatedly in the face. West told police the woman got her injuries from falling. When asked specifically about the neck injuries, West responded, “A ghost did it.”

Officers had to struggle with an intoxicated West to place him in handcuffs after he made the ghost comment. The woman said West has made comments about killing her. West is being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on $1,000 bail. He was ordered to stay sober while the case is pending.