By Tom McKee, WCPO TV News (Ohio)
A Fort Thomas woman is alive still because of quick action by that city’s police.
Detectives kept her ex-husband from possibly shooting her in far away Las Vegas.
William Joseph Anthony, 40, is behind bars in Las Vegas now. Charges are pending.
Anthony was jailed for six months in Campbell County for wanton endangerment and six weeks ago was ordered to stay away from her.
He apparently didn’t listen.
This week’s event began Sunday in Fort Thomas with a shot-punctuated break-in at the Anthony home on Rossford Avenue.
Fort Thomas police quickly learned that Anthony had seen his ex-wife’s itinerary.
“He knew she was in Las Vegas,” said Michelle Snodgrass, assistant Commonwealth attorney. “He knew when she was returning. He knew flight numbers, times.”
Anthony disappeared so Fort Thomas police set up two plans to get him.
One was at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The other involved Las Vegas police and security at The Flamingo hotel and casino.
“I was scared for my victim,” said Snodgrass. “I was scared for anybody else here in Campbell County.”
“We had a victim out there, a victim we had worked with before -- and we were going to do whatever we could to protect her,” said Snodgrass.
Anthony was nabbed as he approached his ex-wife in The Flamingo and reached into a bag which contained a gun.
“We had no doubt that he could do some of the things he was threatening,” Snodgrass said.
When Anthony was released from jail in October he was ordered to live with family in New York.
“He wasn’t supposed to be in Campbell County,” said Snodgrass, “and most importantly he was to have no contact directly or indirectly with the victim.”
“He obviously violated all of the court’s orders already,” said Snodgrass.
Neighbors along Rossford Avenue said they were shocked at what had happened.
“I have grandchildren and children living in the neighborhood and it’s a little scary,” said Joe Eppstein, of Ft. Thomas, “it really is.”
“I’m shocked that this could happen in a neighborhood like this,” said Amy Hamant, of Ft. Thomas. “You think that you know your neighbors, but maybe you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.”
There’s no word yet when Anthony will be brought back to the Tri-state to face charges for the break-in and probation violations.