Elliott turns himself in

 RED OAK — A Red Oak man wanted on kidnapping and attempted murder charges turned himself into the Montgomery County Sheriff Wednesday morning after spending more than a week in hiding. 

William Elliott, 57, said he’s innocent of the charges, claiming the alleged victim, Shelby Schmitz, 22, actually attacked him. 

Elliott told reporters at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center that Schmitz was under the influence of methamphetamine when she attacked him with a knife. He showed two apparent knife wounds to reporters, including one near his throat. 

“It’s insane. I can’t make any sense of it,” Elliott said of the charges he faces. “I didn’t do anything.”

According to his account of the events of Monday, Nov. 11, he was cleaning paint brushes in his basement with gasoline when Schmitz came to his home at 209 E. Maple. 

He said an argument ensued. 

“She was blaming me for losing her kids and a bunch of other stuff,” he said. 

He also disputed her allegation that he doused her in gasoline. 

“There was never anything going on like that,” he said, adding the gasoline spilled on both of them after she attacked him with a knife. 

He said he was not in a sexual relationship with Schmitz, whom he said has a husband. 

Elliott called an Omaha television station Tuesday indicating he would be  turning himself in to authorities. This morning, he said he did so because he was tired of living in hiding. 

“This is the right thing to do,” he said. “I’m not guilty of anything and I want to get this cleared up.”

Elliott declined to identify where he has been hiding and said he does not have a lawyer. 

After talking for several minutes to reporters with Omaha television stations and the Red Oak Express in the law enforcement lobby, Elliott was taken into custody by Sheriff Joe Sampson. He was then searched for weapons and contraband and led away into the jail, where he will remain at least until bond is established on the two felony charges. 

Additional charges may be filed as Red Oak police also seized a misdemeanor amount of narcotics after searching Elliott’s house following the attack. 

After the incident, Schmitz was treated and released from the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital without any serious injuries.