A 91-year-old Roseville man who allegedly tried to stab an elderly woman in their home is now facing attempted murder charges.

Claude Francis Montgomery is in custody in the Placer County Jail following the Oct. 25 incident, police said. He was scheduled to be arraigned Friday on 10 counts, including attempted murder, cruelty to a dependent adult, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, making death threats, dissuading a witness, and resisting arrest.

Police responded to the incident at 10:55 a.m. Sunday at the man’s Roseville home, police said. That’s where they found the 78-year-old victim, who had reportedly sustained minor facial injuries.

“He allegedly attempted to stab her and it was pretty clear that his intent was to kill her,” Police Spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther said.

Montgomery was armed with a knife and initially resisted arrest, at one point barricading himself in a room, Gunther said. Injuries suffered during the struggle, along with unrelated medical problems, sent Montgomery to the hospital until he recovered and could be placed under arrest on Tuesday, Gunther said.

The female victim sustained minor injuries to her face and was treated at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

Domestic violence among elderly is an understudied area, according to reports. But what surveys do exist suggest it is more prevalent than might be expected.

According to the National Center for Elder Abuse, a 1999 study found 4.3 percent of elderly people were in an abusive relationship. Another study said 5.8 percent experienced domestic violence in the past year. And those numbers are probably higher, the NCEA found.

“Service providers are only seeing the ‘tip of the iceberg’ when it comes to elder abuse,” authors of a survey of surveys said.

Montgomery is currently being held without bail. Police have also served Montgomery with a restraining order prohibiting him from having any contact with the victim. He must also stay 100 yards away from her.