Woman Charged in East Austin Pickaxe Attack

A woman is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking her roommate with a pickaxe.

Patra Ethel Cokley, 56, was arrested after an argument with a roommate at an East Austin group home over a late rent payment turned violent. Cokley allegedly told her roommate, “You’re lucky I don’t have my pistol,” before swinging at him with a two-foot-long pickaxe, police told KEYE.

During the struggle Cokley allegedly bit her roommate on the hand, leading to a visible injury, reported the station.

The altercation occurred Friday on the 5000 block of Berkman Drive, reported KEYE. Cokley had told police she managed the group home for the last decade.

When questioned by police, Cokley denied the struggle took place, but police arrested her anyway. The pickaxe was found in the front yard of the home.

The current status of Cokley’s roommate is unknown.