Actress Katharine Ross has taken legal action against her daughter, Cleo Rose Elliott, by obtaining a restraining order following an alarming incident where Cleo allegedly stabbed her mother multiple times in the arm with scissors, as per court records.
Renowned for her roles in classic films like The Graduate and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 71-year-old Ross, who is married to actor Sam Elliott, detailed in the restraining order that her 26-year-old daughter has a history of verbal and emotional abuse since childhood, escalating to physical violence around the age of 12 or 13, culminating in a recent traumatic episode.
The distressing event unfolded on March 2 when Cleo reportedly flew into a rage, uttering menacing threats towards her mother before violently damaging property within their residence.
According to legal filings, Cleo aggressively pursued Ross within their home, leading to a harrowing confrontation.
In a harrowing account, Ross recounted how she reached for the phone to seek assistance from law enforcement, only for Cleo to sabotage her efforts by cutting the phone line with the scissors.
Cleo then proceeded to threaten her mother’s safety by brandishing the sharp object and ultimately inflicting six painful wounds on Ross’s arm, leaving lasting marks beneath her skin.
The motives behind Cleo’s actions remain unclear, prompting Ross to take swift legal action independently by filing for the protective order on March 8 without legal representation.
Responding to inquiries, Ross’s spokesperson relayed to PEOPLE magazine that they are not acquainted with the specifics of the case and confirmed that Ross is refraining from making public statements at this time.
As the legal proceedings progress, Cleo has been mandated to maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from her mother
