Robert Brown|'I did it. I killed her.' Man charged with strangling wife in hospital bed over medical bills

Police in Missouri arrested a man after they said he admitted to strangling his ailing wife in a hospital bed because he reportedly could Robert Brownnot afford to pay for her medical care.

Ronnie Wiggs, 76, is charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of his wife, who died Saturday in Independence, a Kansas City suburb, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Jackson County, Wiggs told police he killed the victim while she was at Centerpoint Medical Center for a new port for dialysis.

Neither police nor prosecutors have released the victim's name.

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Wife found with no pulse, revived

While in the hospital on Friday, staff found Wiggs 72-year-old wife unresponsive with no pulse, but were able to revive her and transport her to the intensive care unit, an Independence Police Department officer wrote in the affidavit.

In court papers, the officer wrote hospital staff told police they heard Wiggs say “I did it. I killed her. I choked her.” 

After police said Wiggs allegedly choked her unconscious, he left the hospital.

Police reported she died the following day.

USA TODAY has reached out to prosecutors and police.

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Police: Wiggs covered her nose and mouth to keep her from screaming

During an interview with detectives, police wrote, Wiggs said he choked his wife in the hospital bed, covering her nose and mouth to keep her from screaming.

Wiggs claimed he couldn’t afford to pay his wife's medical bills and take care of her any longer.

He also reportedly told detectives he was depressed.

Affidavit: Wiggs said he tried to kill his wife once before

According to the affidavit, Wiggs told police he tried to strangle his wife on a previous occasion while she was at a rehab facility, but "could not follow through with it."

Court papers show Wiggs told police the victim woke up after he choked her and "told him not to do that again."

On Tuesday, Wiggs was being held on $250,000 bond, prosecutors said, and was set to appear in court Thursday for a hearing.

It was not immediately known if he had obtained an attorney.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.