GARDEN GROVE – A woman is behind bars after police say she poisoned her husband, cut off his penis and threw it in the garbage disposal because he “deserved it.”

At about 9 p.m. Monday, officers went to a condominium in the 1400 block of Flower Street after a woman called 911 and reported a medical emergency, Garden Grove police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said.

The woman, Catherine Kieu Becker, met officers at the door and told them her husband was in the bedroom, Nightengale said. Becker also told officers that he “deserved it,” he said.

Officers found a 51-year-old man tied to the bed and bleeding profusely from his groin, he said. The man, who has not been identified, underwent emergency surgery at UCI Medical Center in Orange and was listed in good condition, said hospital spokesman John Murray.

Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, the victim declined to comment. “This is a private matter,” he said.

Murray said he spoke to both the surgeon and the patient, who, he said, “won’t authorize me to release any other information about him or his treatment or the prognosis.”

Becker, 48, is accused of using an unknown poison or drug in her husband’s food to make him sleepy, Nightengale said. She then tied him to the bed and, as he woke up, she cut off his penis with a 10-inch kitchen knife, Nightengale said.

“He woke up right before she cut off his penis,” he said.

She tossed the penis in the garbage disposal and turned it on, Nightengale said, adding that pieces of penis were recovered and taken to UCI.

The victim told detectives that he believed there was something wrong with the food Becker prepared for him, Nightengale said, adding that detectives took the food to be tested.

The couple married on Dec. 29, 2009. The victim filed for divorce in May, citing “irreconcilable differences,” according to court records. The couple have no children.

Nightengale said there is no record in Garden Grove of domestic violence between the couple.

Neighbor Phuonganh Pham said the couple were friendly and seemed to get along.

“It’s surprising because since their relationship seemed strong and going well,” Pham said. “It doesn’t seem to me like she would do that kind of thing to him.”

Becker was arrested on suspicion of aggravated mayhem, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, administering a drug with intent to commit a felony, poisoning and spousal abuse, Nightengale said. She is being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

“We have not been able to interview him and she is not talking,” Nightengale said. “The motive is unknown other than the divorce proceedings.”

The investigation is ongoing.

(Staff writer Landon Hall contributed to this report.)

Contact the writer: 714-704-3709 or desalazar@ocregister.com