An Independence, Missouri man has been charged with second-degree murder for killing his wife in a hospital bed, according to prosecutors in Jackson County. The incident occurred on Friday night at Centerpoint Medical Center, where an off-duty officer was called to the ICU for an assault. The victim, a woman, was found unresponsive with no pulse. Medical staff reported hearing Ronnie Wiggs, the victim’s husband, confessing to the crime by saying, “I did it, I killed her, I choked her.”
Wiggs was arrested and taken into custody for first-degree domestic assault. The victim was taken off life support shortly after being admitted to the hospital, as she showed no signs of brain function. Wiggs admitted to strangling his wife and leaving the hospital, then returning later and confessing to a relative and hospital staff. He had attempted to kill his wife on two previous occasions during hospital visits.
During police interviews, Wiggs stated that he killed his wife because he was depressed and unable to care for her or afford her medical expenses. The victim was at the hospital for dialysis treatment. Wiggs is currently held on a $250,000 bond.
