Charges against the Warsaw man who allegedly attacked his wife with a hatchet Monday have been upgraded to include attempted murder, a level 1 felony.

37-year-old Joseph Waithira was originally was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 10:19 p.m. Monday for domestic battery, resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 5 felony. A charge of strangulation, a level 6 felony, also has been filed against him.

His bond was set at $500,000 surety and $250 cash.

According to court documents filed Wednesday, at 6:16 p.m. Monday, the Kosciusko County 911 Central Dispatch Center received a call from a neighbor of Waithira who said Waithira’s children came to the neighbor’s home for help because Joseph was killing their mother, Sandy Waithira, inside their residence.

Upon arrival by area law enforcement, Warsaw Police saw a man covered with blood – later identified as Joseph – sitting on top of Sandy. An officer saw severe “chops” to Sandy’s head with a hatchet, which was lying nearby.

Joseph was arrested and help was given to Sandy, who was experiencing severe blood loss from her head wounds.

Sandy was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne by medical helicopter. She was in “fair” condition as of Thursday.