A 60-year-old Florida woman, Bonnie J. Tietgens, is currently in custody after allegedly murdering her husband with a billy club and attempting to cover up the crime, according to local law enforcement. Tietgens is facing charges of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice by tampering with evidence, as reported by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident took place late Wednesday night in a residential area on Birch Drive in Fort Pierce, a mid-sized city situated along Florida’s Treasure Coast. Around 10:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the scene following reports of a possible deceased male. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of 64-year-old William Tietgens inside the suburban home.
According to St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro, the suspect had attempted to reach her adult son by phone earlier in the evening. When the son returned the call, Tietgens informed him of his father’s death and confessed to striking him in the head with a wooden billy club. The son, unable to reach his father, contacted his sister and they both arrived at their parents’ home where they confirmed the tragic news and called 911.
Despite deputies’ attempts to perform lifesaving measures, the severity of the victim’s head trauma made their efforts futile. They found Tietgens in the garage, standing near a washing machine with a blood-soaked blanket on the ground next to her. The washing machine was fully loaded, and it appeared that Tietgens was about to start the cycle, presumably to destroy potential evidence. The machine contained blood-soaked clothing and towels, according to the sheriff.
The news of the alleged murder has shocked the local community. One neighbor, who often saw the victim walking his golden retriever, expressed disbelief at the incident. Another neighbor revealed that the couple had a history of drinking and fighting, but the violent outcome was unexpected.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office has not yet provided a motive for the alleged crime, and the homicide investigation is ongoing. Tietgens is currently being held in the St. Lucie County Jail on a $250,000 bond and is also under a mental health hold as per Florida law.