Man charged with murder for strangling wife in hospital bed

Police in Missouri arrested a man after they say he admitted to strangling his sick wife in a hospital bed because he reportedly couldn’t afford to pay for her medical care.

Ronnie Wiggs, 76, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, who died Saturday in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced.

According to an affidavit filed in Jackson County, Wiggs told police he killed the victim while she was at Centerpoint Medical Center for a new dialysis connection.

Neither police nor prosecutors have released the victim’s name.

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While at the hospital Friday, staff found Wiggs’ 72-year-old wife unresponsive and without a pulse, but were able to revive her and transport her to the intensive care unit, an Independence Police Department officer wrote in the affidavit.

In court papers, the officer wrote that hospital staff told police they heard Wiggs say, “I did it.” I killed her. I suffocated her.”

After police said Wiggs allegedly choked her unconscious, he left the hospital.

Police reported she died the following day.

USA TODAY has reached out to prosecutors and police.

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Police: Wiggs covered her nose and mouth to stop her from screaming

During an interview with investigators, police wrote, Wiggs said he choked his wife in the hospital bed and covered her nose and mouth to stop her from screaming.

Wiggs claimed he could no longer afford to pay his wife’s medical bills and care for her.

He also reportedly told investigators that he was depressed.

Affidavit: Wiggs said he had tried to kill his wife before

According to the affidavit, Wiggs told police that he had tried to strangle his wife before when she was in a rehab facility but “couldn’t go through with it.”

Court records show Wiggs told police the victim woke up after he choked her and “told him not to do that again.”

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