A Missouri man allegedly admitted to killing his wife in her hospital bed because he couldn't afford to care for her, according to authorities.
According to court records filed Saturday, Ronnie Wiggs told police he smothered his wife, who had come to the hospital for a new port for dialysis. Wiggs now faces 2nd-degree murder charges.
He said he choked her and covered her nose and mouth to keep her from screaming.
"I did it, I killed her, I choked her," medical staff said Wiggs said.
The victim's son was at the hospital at the time of the killing after giving Wiggs a ride there.
After he was arrested, an affidavit stated that Wiggs admitted that he had tried to kill his wife two other times.
One time allegedly took place when she was at a rehabilitation facility for her medical issues. He said he tried to choke her but could not follow through with it.
He told police that she had woken up and told him not to do it again.
The Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says Wiggs told police he was "depressed" and "could not take care of her anymore and he could not pay the medical bills that had been acquired."
Wiggs is being held on a $250,000 bond.
