A Nicholasville woman was charged with attempting to kill her boyfriend with a pillow Tuesday, while the boyfriend was arrested for allegedly strangling and assaulting her.

Charles Hampton, 50, and Karen Enfinger, 53, were both arrested Tuesday morning at their residence on Stephens Drive.

Nicholasville Police Sgt. Kevin Grimes said officers were called there around 10 a.m. for a domestic violence assault.

When they arrived, they found Hampton lying in the doorway and Enfinger sitting on the couch.

According to the citations, Enfinger admitted to trying to smother Hampton with a pillow after he assaulted her.

Both had been drinking when the argument began Monday night. Enfinger said the argument became physical, and Hampton grabbed her around her neck and choked her until she lost consciousness.

Enfinger told officers she started thinking about killing Hampton after the assault. She said she spent 45 minutes sitting on the couch and thinking about it. Then she went into the bedroom where Hampton was, took a pillow, placed it over his face and sat on top of it.

Police said Enfinger had a small laceration on her left arm and a small cut on her chin.

Enfinger also told police the abuse had gone on “for years,” according to the citation.

Hampton was arrested and charged with second-degree assault (domestic violence) and first-degree strangulation.

Enfinger was charged with attempted murder.

Both were arraigned Wednesday morning in Jessamine District Court. Because the charges are felonies, an automatic not-guilty plea was entered for both.

Both were scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 21, which will determine probable cause for the charges, according to court officials.

Both were lodged in the Jessamine County Detention Center.