An Missouri man is charged with second-degree murder after prosecutors say he strangled his wife while she was lying in a hospital bed.Court records filed Saturday say Ronnie Wiggs told police he killed his wife, who had come to the hospital for a new port for dialysis. Police say Wiggs’ wife was found unresponsive by hospital staff on Friday. The probable cause statement says the incident started after a uniformed officer working off duty at the hospital was called to the ICU shortly before midnight Friday.Nurses were able to get a pulse and transport the victim to the ICU, where she later passed away. After taking Wiggs into custody, he reportedly told officers he couldn’t take care of her or afford her medical bills anymore. Sister station KMBC spoke with domestic abuse experts at the Rose Brooks Center, who say this is not uncommon but still disturbing.”I’ve been doing domestic violence advocacy since 2008, and there are still situations that come up that are a surprise to me,” Andre Reya said. “And my heart hurts for survivors because I know, you know, the resources that are there, the support is there. But sometimes just depending on their situation, it’s so difficult and challenging to get connected. And so, unfortunately, with my years of experience, it’s still a shock.”Wiggs admitted to police that this was not the first time that he attempted to kill his wife. He allegedly admitted to police that he did it two other times while she was receiving medical care. Both times were unsuccessful, and once she woke up and told him to stop.Wiggs is being held on a $250,000 bond.
An Missouri man is charged with second-degree murder after prosecutors say he strangled his wife while she was lying in a hospital bed.
Court records filed Saturday say Ronnie Wiggs told police he killed his wife, who had come to the hospital for a new port for dialysis.
Police say Wiggs’ wife was found unresponsive by hospital staff on Friday. The probable cause statement says the incident started after a uniformed officer working off duty at the hospital was called to the ICU shortly before midnight Friday.
Nurses were able to get a pulse and transport the victim to the ICU, where she later passed away.
After taking Wiggs into custody, he reportedly told officers he couldn’t take care of her or afford her medical bills anymore.
Sister station KMBC spoke with domestic abuse experts at the Rose Brooks Center, who say this is not uncommon but still disturbing.
“I’ve been doing domestic violence advocacy since 2008, and there are still situations that come up that are a surprise to me,” Andre Reya said. “And my heart hurts for survivors because I know, you know, the resources that are there, the support is there. But sometimes just depending on their situation, it’s so difficult and challenging to get connected. And so, unfortunately, with my years of experience, it’s still a shock.”
Wiggs admitted to police that this was not the first time that he attempted to kill his wife. He allegedly admitted to police that he did it two other times while she was receiving medical care. Both times were unsuccessful, and once she woke up and told him to stop.
Wiggs is being held on a $250,000 bond.
