KNOX, Clarion County — A man has reportedly admitted to police he stabbed to death a former Emlenton woman he lived with here, according to documents.

The body of Jennifer Mae O'Neil, 31, was found by borough police on the floor of her home at 332 Best Ave. about 3:10 p.m. Thursday.

Her boyfriend, Michael Anthony Savard, 36, was arraigned Thursday night on charges of homicide, aggravated assault, and simple assault.

Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron said this morning that while it's early in the investigation, he considers this a first-degree murder case.

Savard, possibly a chef at an upscale restaurant, reportedly told police he stabbed O'Neil after she came at him with a knife, according to documents.

Police were alerted to a problem Thursday when Donna Card, O'Neil's mother, called police. Card told police that when her grandchildren called their mother's home from her home, Savard told them O'Neil was in the shower, according to documents. Card was suspicious and asked Knox police to check the home.

O'Neil's stepfather, Paul Card, and an officer entered the home and found the body of O'Neil with multiple stab wounds to her face, neck and chest, documents said. While the type of knife was not identified, it was described as "large" in court documents.

Both left the home and waited for additional officers to arrive and check the home, documents said.

Officers had to force their way into a locked upstairs bathroom, where they found Savard, documents said. He had a bloody knife in his right hand and blood on his body, documents said.

He was taken to Clarion Hospital for treatment of "his condition," Aaron said. He was arraigned at the hospital, where he remained this morning.

At the hospital he told state troopers in Clarion that he stabbed O'Neil.