INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – A Missouri man has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly killing his wife this weekend while she was receiving medical treatment at a local hospital. The incident occurred at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence.
According to a probable cause statement, hospital staff initially reported that the woman was alert on Friday, but she was found unconscious shortly after. She was rushed to the intensive care unit, where it was discovered that she had no pulse or brain activity.
The hospital staff noticed suspicious injuries, including redness around the woman’s neck and a fresh wound on her throat. Authorities contacted the woman’s husband, Ronnie Wiggs, about her condition, but he claimed he had no means of transportation. The victim’s son was subsequently called and agreed to pick up Wiggs and bring him to the hospital.
Once in the hospital room, Wiggs allegedly confessed to both the victim’s son and a nurse that he had killed his wife. He specifically stated, “I did it, I killed her, I choked her.” The police took Wiggs into custody and during an interview, he admitted to choking his wife and covering her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Wiggs also disclosed that he had attempted to kill her on two previous occasions.
Detectives revealed that Wiggs cited depression and financial difficulties as his motivation for the murder. He claimed he was unable to care for his wife any longer or afford the accumulated medical bills.
The victim was pronounced dead the following morning, and on Saturday, Wiggs was charged with second-degree murder by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. He is currently being held at the Jackson County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. The hospital staff’s alertness to the suspicious injuries played a crucial role in uncovering the alleged murder. As the case unfolds, more details are anticipated, shedding light on the extent of the couple’s troubled relationship.