Bellevue man accused of killing wife with hatchet
Mar 25, 2012, 10:39 AM | Updated: Mar 26, 2012, 7:07 am
A 71-year-old Bellevue man who walked into a police station on Friday admitting he killed his wife two days earlier is currently being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
Bellevue police say James Schumacher murdered his 71-year-old wife with a hatchet while she was in bed and waited two days before walking into a police station Friday afternoon.
“He subsequently made a full confession to murdering his wife actually two days earlier at their home in the Lake Hills neighborhood,” said Officer Carla Iafrate.
Police said they went to a home at 144 159th Ave. SE on Friday where they found the deceased woman.
“The suspect claimed he was tired of his wife’s abuse and killed her with a hatchet, shut the door to her bedroom and locked it, and waited two days before telling authorities,” Iafrate said.
The couple reportedly had a dispute several years ago that resulted in the wife filing for a restraining order, but that had apparently been resolved. While they had their issues, Iafrate says there was “nothing really extensive” in regards to spousal abuse throughout the couples’ 47 years of marriage.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the woman’s identity.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
