Woman cuts husband's penis off

A woman is in custody after she drugged her estranged husband, tied him to a bed, cut off his penis with a large knife and threw it down a waste disposal, authorities said.

Police Lt Jeff Nightengale said 48-year-old Catherine Kieu Becker drugged a meal and fed it to the 51-year-old victim, whose name was not released, shortly before the attack on Monday night.

Mr Nightengale said the man felt sick, went to lie down and lost consciousness. He said Becker then tied the victim's arms and legs to the bed with rope and attacked him with the 10-inch knife as he awoke.

"He was conscious when his penis was removed," Mr Nightengale said.

He said Becker then put the penis in the waste disposal and turned it on.

Mr Nightengale said Becker called emergency services and indicated to arriving officers that the victim was in the next room.

Paramedics found him tied to the bed, bleeding profusely.

Bail for Becker was set at one million dollars after she was held for investigation of aggravated mayhem, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, administering a drug with intent to commit a felony, poisoning and spousal abuse.

The victim underwent surgery and was in serious condition at the University of California at Irvine Medical Centre in Orange.

The couple was reportedly in the process of a divorce.