A 33-year-old Cedartown woman was arrested after police said her account of an alleged domestic dispute changed during their investigation. Nicole Lynn Markiewicz was arrested following an investigation that began when Cedartown Police were dispatched to the Quality Inn on North Main Street in reference to a reported domestic incident that allegedly occurred at a residence on North College Street.

According to the police report, 911 dispatchers told officers that the complainant claimed her mother-in-law had punched her in the face. Dispatchers also reported that the woman had refused medical treatment and appeared to possibly be under the influence.

When officers arrived at the hotel, they made contact with Markiewicz, who police said had visible bruising around both eyes, her chin and the front of her neck.

Markiewicz initially told police that her mother-in-law had punched her in the right eye the previous night and in the left eye two nights earlier. She said she and her husband had gone to the hotel because she did not feel safe at their apartment.

Markiewicz told police that an argument began after her mother-in-law criticized her religious beliefs and allegedly told her that she did not deserve to be with her son. Markiewicz said the woman then punched her in the face.

She also described a separate incident two nights earlier in which she said the two women were arguing before her mother-in-law allegedly struck her.

Police later spoke with the mother-in-law, who disputed the allegations. They reportedly told officers that Nicole and her son frequently argued and that she had heard them fighting on numerous occasions.

The woman told police that her son had previously come out of a room carrying a knife and said Nicole had cut him. She also said Nicole had left the residence on foot afterward and that she obtained a hotel room for her son so he could get away from Nicole.

When asked about Nicole’s injuries, the victim reportedly said Nicole attacks her son and that he has to defend himself. The victim also told police that Nicole had attacked her in the past, but she denied that the two women had gotten into a physical altercation the night of the reported incident.

The victim further alleged that Nicole had anger issues and would yell throughout the night and engage in other behavior that frightened her. The victim said she had been sleeping in her vehicle because she was afraid to remain inside the home with Nicole.

Police also contacted the suspect husband’s workplace. A manager reportedly told officers that the man had arrived at work with bruising on his face and had said he was experiencing problems with his wife.

The manager also told police that when the workplace attempted to contact the man by phone, Nicole answered and allegedly began discussing the dispute involving her mother-in-law. According to the report, Nicole allegedly said, “I wish my mother-in-law would die.”

Officers later returned to the Quality Inn and attempted to speak with both Nicole and her husband. Police said Nicole initially refused to provide her room number and declined requests to meet officers in the lobby.

Hotel staff eventually directed officers to Room 117, where police made contact with the husband. Officers said he acknowledged that he was experiencing marital problems and described Nicole as becoming upset over a sick family member.

When questioned about bruises on his face and cheeks, the man initially attributed them to being tired before telling officers that he was clumsy.

Police then returned to the room where Nicole was completing a written statement. According to the report, officers determined that the written statement differed from the accounts she had previously provided.

In the written statement, police said Nicole claimed her mother-in-law struck her because she was angry that Nicole and her son had gotten married nearly a year earlier without her knowledge.

Following the investigation, officers placed Nicole Markiewicz under arrest and transported her to the jail.

Markiewicz is charged with elder abuse, false report of a crime, and false statements and writings.