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Fife stabbing witness describes what happened

FIFE, Wash. — The man involved in a deadly Fife stabbing appeared in Pierce County Superior Court for the first time Monday afternoon.

Daniel Hatch, 54, is accused of stabbing Sarah Mercer, 42, in the chest inside a home on the 4000 block of 61st Ave. East Sunday around 2 p.m.

"I heard him say, ‘Get off me, get off me.’ He was like, ‘Help get her off me,’” said witness Rose Hatch.

Rose is Daniel Hatch's wife and was Mercer's roommate.

"It was two good people that were in a bad situation,” she said.

Mercer and Rose Hatch rented the home in Fife together for about five months. Rose said things began getting contentious and financial problems emerged. She said Mercer was coming to pick up her things Sunday and, somehow, a fight broke out between Mercer and Daniel.

"Dan had his hands on his head and was saying, ‘Oh my God, she attacked me. I told her to get off,’ and I said, ‘I know, I know.’ I was on the phone with 911 and I put her feet up on something and I felt a pulse and I didn't know she had passed away,” said Rose.

Fife police Chief Pete Fisher said investigators received conflicting information. Monday evening, police hadn’t released many details.

"We are comfortable saying that we are positive that the victim and the suspect knew each other, to what extent, we’re not willing to say at this point,” said Fisher.

Rose Hatch still can't believe it happened.

"I'm sorry about this whole thing. I hate it. I hate it. There's a lot of people affected by this,” she said.

Daniel Hatch is being held at the Pierce County jail on a $1 million bond. In court, the judge said he has prior assaults on his record.

His arraignment is set for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

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