Photo: Getty Images
A Missouri man is facing charges after he allegedly strangled his wife to death because he couldn't afford her medical bills.
According to PEOPLE, Ronnie Wiggs has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of his wife at the Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri.
Hospital staff called an off-duty police officer to the ICU at around 11:30 p.m. on Friday (May 3) after a patient, who was in the hospital to get a new port for dialysis, was allegedly assaulted. According to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, the patient, Wigg's wife, was choked by her husband while she was in her hospital bed. Wiggs allegedly covered his wife's mouth and nose so her cries for help couldn't be heard.
The officer found Wiggs' wife unresponsive and she had no pulse. The patient was initially placed on life support but was later taken off when she showed no signs of brain function.
Hospital staff told police they heard Wiggs say “I did it. I killed her. I choked her." When taken into custody, Wiggs allegedly admitted to strangling his wife and attempting to kill her two times before. He also told authorities that he killed her because he couldn't take care of her or her medical bills anymore.
Wiggs is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.