A mother in Ohio has been charged with murder after allegedly using a collectible short sword to fatally stab her adult daughter during a heated argument. The incident, which occurred on July 10, resulted in the death of Ayla Mangan, 32, who was reportedly autistic and had the functional level of a 13-year-old.
Details of the Incident
According to local authorities, Terri Niner, 49, called 911 following the stabbing, telling the dispatcher that she had been in an argument with her daughter over “some dumb stuff” — referring to previous fights between the two. Niner reportedly explained the situation in a phone call with the dispatcher, stating that she had grabbed the sword off the wall during the altercation.
The police report and criminal complaint detail Niner’s conversation with the dispatcher:
Terri Niner allegedly said, “Please help us, please.”
When asked, “Did you cut her?” by the dispatcher, Niner responded, “No, I grabbed the knife from her, and she went to throw herself backwards because she’s autistic. And when she went to throw herself backwards, it got her. And I thought it only cut her a little bit.”
Despite claiming the injury was accidental, Ayla Mangan later died from the stab wound to her back, which was inflicted by the short sword.
Involvement of the Husband
Terri Niner’s husband, Francis “Jay” Niner, is facing obstruction charges for allegedly withholding information from investigators. According to authorities, Francis Niner — who collects and displays swords in the home — did not fully cooperate with the investigation and attempted to protect his wife by not revealing pertinent details to the police.
The sword, which was used in the stabbing, was reportedly displayed in the living room of the Niners’ home. Francis, who is also Ayla Mangan’s stepfather, is accused of being untruthful during the investigation.
Court Proceedings and Further Legal Actions
Both Terri Niner and Francis Niner were arrested by Canton police on Thursday afternoon. They are set to appear in court on July 16.
During a bond hearing, Elise Hamilton, a senior trial counsel in the Canton Law Department, described the allegations as “very serious” and confirmed that Ayla Mangan had autism, which could impact her functional capacity.
The incident has raised questions about the nature of family dynamics and how mental health and disability may have influenced the tragic outcome. Authorities will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation, with the Niners facing severe charges in connection with the death of Ayla Mangan.
