Ronnie Wiggs, 76, was arrested in Missouri after confessing to police that he strangled his ailing wife in a hospital bed. The incident occurred at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City. Wiggs faces charges of second-degree murder in connection with his wife’s death.
The victim, a 72-year-old woman whose name has not been released, was initially found unresponsive with no pulse while at the hospital. Medical staff managed to revive her and transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit. However, Wiggs allegedly admitted to hospital staff that he had choked his wife, saying, “I did it. I killed her. I choked her.”
During police interviews, Wiggs confessed to choking his wife, covering her nose and mouth to prevent her from screaming. He cited financial struggles as the motive, stating that he couldn’t afford to pay for her medical bills any longer. Wiggs also revealed feelings of depression.
This is not the first time Wiggs has attempted to harm his wife. According to court documents, he admitted to trying to strangle her previously while she was at a rehab facility. However, he was unable to go through with it, and his wife woke up and warned him against repeating the act.
Wiggs is currently held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing. It is unclear at this time whether he has retained legal representation.