News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Pinal man, 81, held in shooting death of wife
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
William Lee Swink, 81, has been arrested in the death of his 80-year-old wife Mary Swink.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
An elderly Pinal County woman was found shot to death in her bedroom early Wednesday morning and officials believe her husband may have fired the fatal shot.
William "Bill" Swink, a San Manuel resident, called a neighbor and told her that he had just "killed his wife," according to a Pinal County sheriff's office arrest report.
The unidentified neighbor then called 911 and told responding officers that Swink, 81, had told her he had "shot Mary, she was in a lot of pain."
His wife, Mary Swink, 80, was found in bed with a gun shot wound through her abdomen.
Upon searching the Swinks' home at 7:45 a.m., deputies discovered a "small caliber" revolver on the kitchen counter. Deputies also found medical supplies on both sides of the bed.
Swink was then arrested without incident and taken to the sheriff's San Manuel substation, located approximately 50 miles northeast of Tucson, to be interviewed.
While he was in custody, Swink told a deputy, "My wife was in so much pain and it's hard when her face is so distorted from the pain you can't recognize her. Well, she is not in pain anymore," the sheriff's report shows.
He also told deputies that it was hard for him to bear his wife's pain and that her screaming would keep him awake at night.
Before her death, Mary Swink told her husband to retrieve medication from their health care nurse at 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to the record. After two calls, William Swink said he could not get a hold of the caretaker for the medication, he told officers.
The morning of Mary Swink's death, the caretaker showed up at the home with some of William Swink's medication. The unidentified caretaker regularly delivered medicine to the Swinks' home, according to sheriff's office spokeswoman Vanessa White. Swink told deputies he was a diabetic and required insulin but the report did not identify Mary Swink's illness.
Swink was transferred to the Pinal County Adult Detention Center. He was booked on one charge of first degree murder and was denied bond Thursday at an initial court appearance, White said.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: