Calhoun man sentenced for attempted murder after stabbing his girlfriend

Terry Lee Chamlee

WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) —  A Calhoun man will be behind bars for three decades after being convicted of attempted murder.

On October 24, 2025, Terry Lee Chamlee purchased a knife from a local hardware store.

After purchasing the knife, he proceeded to cross Cleveland Highway to Roses department store in Dalton, and stabbed his girlfriend multiple times.

Chamlee ran to a nearby grocery store and tried to change his appearance by taking off some of his clothing.

According to Whitfield County, an off-duty Dalton police officer confronted Chamlee at gunpoint and attempted to take him into custody.

Other officers were dispatched to the scene, but Chamlee stabbed himself before they could apprehend him.

He was eventually taken into custody.

“Chamlee had been previously convicted of of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and other offenses from a 1985 shooting of a previous romantic partner.  His previous case was in Gordon County, where he was sentenced to twenty years in prison.

-District Attorney Benjamin Kenemer

Chamlee later pled guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.