Woman allegedly bites husband's tongue

SHEBOYGAN - A Sheboygan woman has been charged with domestic abuse for allegedly biting off her husband's tongue as he was giving her a good night kiss.

Karen Lueders, 57, appeared in court this morning. Bond was set at $5,000 and she was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Sheboygan police say her 79-year-old husband called authorities about 11 p.m. Monday, but was having trouble speaking. An ambulance was dispatched to the house.

When authorities arrived to the Lueders' condo complex they found Karen Lueders singing Christmas carols outside. Police say she threw a coffee cup at them. Shortly after, they found William Lueders inside, barely able to communicate, with part of his tongue gone. When an officer asked him if his wife bit it off, he nodded yes.

According to the criminal complaint, at the hospital Willard Lueders wrote on pieces of paper, indicating his wife had gone into a manic state during the past few days. He also acknowledged he didn't believe his wife was responsible for biting his tongue. He indicated her mental state caused her to do it.

“He did not want her arrested, but there are the domestic abuse laws that we have to follow,” said James Haasch, Sheboygan County’s Assistant District Attorney.

Neighbors were surprised to find out what happened with the couple.

“I had heard some singing and that wasn't unusual, they do that quite often, or practice the piano, but it was a little later than usual,” said Philip Rauwerdink, who lives above the Lueders. “They are normally early to bed people.”

Another neighbor said the couple sang at a local church and this incident was not like them.

Willard Lueders was taken to a Sheboygan hospital and then transferred to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in the Milwaukee area where he was to have his tongue reattached.