Ronnie Wiggs, a 75-year-old man from Missouri, has been charged with second-degree murder after confessing to strangling his wife in her hospital bed. The incident occurred in Independence, Missouri, where Wiggs’ wife was undergoing a medical procedure. Following the attack, she was found unresponsive with visible neck injuries and succumbed to her injuries the next day.

According to court documents, Wiggs confessed to the crime at the scene, stating, “I did it, I killed her, I choked her.” He told authorities that he was driven by the financial burden of his wife’s medical care, including ongoing kidney dialysis, which he could no longer afford.

Further investigations revealed that this was not Wiggs’ first attempt on his wife’s life. He had made two previous attempts, one of which occurred at another medical facility but was thwarted when his wife woke up.

Wiggs is currently detained with a bail set at $250,000. The case brings to light the intersection of caregiver stress, financial hardship, and intimate partner violence.