Chief investigator with Dallas County Public Defender's Office accused of fatally stabbing wife

The chief investigator with the Dallas County Public Defender's Office was arrested after a deadly stabbing unfolded in the downtown area late Friday night.

DPD said officers responded to a crisis intervention team call along the 2300 block of North Akard Street around 10:40 p.m. They found Maria Spurger, stabbed and covered in blood. Dallas Fire-Rescue pronounced her dead at the scene.

The department said officers found 54-year-old Jimmy Spurger Jr. sitting in the bedroom, non-responsive and covered in blood. Officers said a small knife was next to him and multiple empty pill bottles were in the kitchen, also covered in blood.

DPD said Spurger was unable to be interviewed due to possibly having ingested multiple pills. He was taken to the hospital, a warrant was issued and he has been charged with murder. 

Spurger is the chief investigator with the public defender's office in the county. He's also a former senior investigator in the Dallas County DA's Office. DPD said the couple had been married for approximately 35 years. Divorce papers had been filed, but not yet served.

Judge Clay Jenkins said, upon notice of the murder, he instructed the "Administration to place the employee on suspension and remove his access."

Spurger has been booked into Lew Sterrett Jail.

The investigation is ongoing.