A late-night argument over a text message quickly escalated into a scene that deputies say crossed the line from relationship drama into felony territory.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 2:30 a.m. on April 28 to a 911 hang-up call at a residence in Marion County. What they found was a dispute that began in a parked car and ended with a kitchen knife, a cellphone video, and conflicting stories.
Deputies made contact with Pauline Jennifer Pearlman, 37, who initially said she had called for help because her car was not working. While speaking with her, the alleged victim approached and reported a dating violence incident.
He told deputies the two had been sitting in his vehicle when Pearlman became upset over a text message she believed was from another woman. The argument moved inside the residence, where, according to the report, Pearlman grabbed a kitchen knife from the counter and advanced toward him while yelling accusations of cheating.
The victim said he feared he was about to be stabbed and fled the home. He was not injured.
Deputies reviewed cellphone video provided by the victim, which reportedly shows Pearlman holding a knife at her side while moving toward him and shouting, “you’re cheating on me.” In the video, she is also heard telling him to “keep recording.”
The relationship, as described in the report, added another layer. The victim told deputies the two had been involved for about six months as an ongoing affair, and that Pearlman is married to someone else.
During the investigation, deputies noted that Pearlman repeatedly told the victim to stop speaking with law enforcement and claimed the video evidence was fabricated using artificial intelligence.
After being read her rights, Pearlman denied wielding a knife and offered a different version of events, alleging the victim had attacked her with a metal cup, strangled her, drenched her with water, and thrown a salad at her. Deputies reported no visible injuries consistent with those claims, and EMS personnel observed no signs of trauma. No cup or other items described were located at the scene.
Pearlman was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, a felony. She was transported to the Marion County Jail and is being held without bond.
