Husband Charged In Beating Wife’s Condition Improves To Serious

A man who was arrested after his wife was nearly beaten to death was charged Monday with aggravated battery.

James G. Loss, 46, is being held at the Kootenai County Jail on $100,000 bail. His wife, Jerrene, improved from critical to serious condition at Kootenai Medical Center.

The 49-year-old woman is being treated at the hospital’s intensive care unit after undergoing neurosurgery to relieve the swelling and bleeding of her brain.

A doctor told sheriff’s investigators that the woman would not have survived if she had been found half an hour later.

Kootenai County sheriff’s marine deputies found Jerrene Loss bleeding and nearly unconscious on the Loss’ boat late Friday.

The Spokane Valley couple was floating near Mica Bay when deputies noticed the boat with blood smeared on its upholstery and a bloody towel inside, according to a report released Monday.

Deputies found Jerrene with her arms and face beaten and swollen. Her clothes were soaked with her own blood.

Before losing consciousness, she told deputies her husband had been drinking. James Loss had gotten angry because he thought she was taking her brother’s side in an earlier disagreement, according to the report.

James Loss then beat her up - kicking her in the face and head and threatening to ram the boat into some logs, according to the report.

She told deputies she feared he would kill her.

Loss’ former wife filed for divorce because he had been beating her up, according to Spokane County court records.

“Because of the past beatings she has received from her husband she is in fear for her life,” read one report.

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