PORTLAND — A woman accused in the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend pleaded not guilty to manslaughter this afternoon.

Lisa McDonald, 48, is accused in the death of 47-year-old Carlos Ramos.

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Lisa McDonald

McDonald, who was arrested yesterday, appeared before Superior Court Justice Roland Cole in orange jail clothes and ankle shackles. During the brief proceeding, she spoke aloud only to indicate that she understood the charge against her and to enter her plea.

Ramos was stabbed at his Forest Avenue apartment on Nov. 28. He died after being transported to Maine Medical Center. An autopsy concluded that he died from a single stab wound to the chest. In the days following his death, neighbors described the couple’s relationship as violent.

Verne Paradie, McDonald’s court-appointed lawyer, received the case this afternoon and said he had only been able to speak to his client for about 10 minutes. Paradie said he would look into the possible roles of self-defense and mental health issues in the case.

“Those are all part and parcel of representing her,” he said. 

McDonald was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month. The indictment was sealed until this afternoon.

McDonald was arrested without incident at the Midtown Community Policing Center yesterday afternoon. The arrest report describes McDonald as a transient and indicates she was intoxicated at the time. 

McDonald is being held on bail of $100,000 surety or $50,000 cash. A bail hearing has been scheduled for March 8.