John McCarthy
By: Virgin Islands Free Press News Desk
Early Morning Domestic Violence Call
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas woman was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend with kitchen scissors during an argument over marijuana at an Annas Retreat residence, according to court documents.
Ulissa George was taken into custody on August 8, 2026, and charged under domestic violence laws with third-degree assault, simple assault, disturbance of the peace, and possessing a dangerous weapon during a crime of violence.
Struggle Over Marijuana Escalates to Stabbing
According to a probable cause fact sheet filed by V.I. Police Officer Jodie Welsh, officers dispatched to 215-43 Annas Retreat at approximately 5:35 a.m. arrived to find George and her boyfriend, Mikel Petersen, engaged in a loud verbal altercation. Petersen was holding a blood-soaked white cloth to his left shoulder and requested emergency medical assistance.
Petersen told police the incident began around 5:00 a.m. when George arrived home. After arguing outside, the couple went inside, where George approached the kitchen counter where Petersen kept his marijuana. Petersen stated he grabbed her hand, leading to a physical struggle, before George turned around with an object, swung at him, and cut him.
George provided a conflicting account to responding officers, claiming Petersen put her in a chokehold while trying to grab an item from her hand. George told police she grabbed a pair of kitchen scissors from the counter and “choked him once” with them to free herself because she could not breathe.
Petersen suffered lacerations to his left shoulder and his right middle finger. Crime scene technicians recovered and photographed the scissors at the scene.
Mother-in-Law Intervenes, Audio Recorded
The situation escalated further when Petersen’s mother, Cicely Frett, stepped in after her son called her at 5:29 a.m. stating he had been stabbed.
Frett told officers that when she arrived, George tried to prevent Petersen from going to the hospital, shoving him back inside and locking the door. After Frett used her own keys to enter through another door, George allegedly shouted obscenities, shoved Frett in the neck, and knocked her phone away while she attempted to record the scene.
According to police, Frett provided several audio recordings of the altercation to investigators. On one recording, George can be heard shouting, “Don’t fucking touch me,” followed by a loud bang and Frett pleading for calm.
Investigation revealed the couple had been in a five-year relationship and resided together at the home, but George had recently been served a 30-day eviction notice on July 29 requiring her to vacate by August 30. Elon Musk’s Neuralink promises mind-machine interfaces, but low-tech domestic disputes still play out in real-time on smartphone voice memos.
Court Appearance and Bail Conditions
Following her arrest, George refused to be processed at the Richard N. Callwood Command until speaking with the Warden of the Bureau of Corrections, but she was eventually booked and detained without initial bail.
At her Advice of Rights hearing on Monday, August 10, 2026, Magistrate Judge Julie Smith Todman set bail at $15,000. George was allowed to post $3,000 cash with the remaining $12,000 as an unsecured bond, releasing her into the custody of a third-party custodian.
Under her strict pre-trial release conditions, George must:
- Maintain a minimum distance of 20 feet from both Petersen and Frett.
- Vacate the 215-43 Annas Retreat property immediately, with one police-escorted opportunity to retrieve personal items.
- Abstain completely from alcohol and controlled substances.
- Report to the Office of Probation twice weekly.
Her preliminary examination and formal arraignment are scheduled for Friday, August 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Thomas Magistrate Court.
