Missouri man allegedly killed his wife because he didn’t want her to die in a nursing home

FENTON, Mo. (TCN) — An elderly man stands accused of fatally shooting his wife because he was “exhausted” by caring for her.

On April 25, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Frontier Trail, where 73-year-old Kenneth Pautler allowed deputies to enter. According to a probable cause statement, authorities entered a bedroom and found Kenneth Pautler’s wife, 75-year-old Karen Pautler, deceased with a “traumatic wound” to her lower back and trauma to her left armpit and upper arm.

Kenneth Pautler reportedly gave officials the gun he allegedly used to fatally shoot his wife. Per the probable cause statement, Pautler told investigators that the victim suffered from mental health conditions, and he had become tired while caring for her the past few days. Pautler allegedly said he didn’t want his wife to die in a nursing home, so he shot her instead.

According to the probable cause statement, Pautler told officials he “wanted the victim’s death to be humane, so he chose a specific cartridge for the firearm” and “chose his shot placement to kill the victim as quick as possible.”

Pautler allegedly “made multiple statements advising he no longer wants to live, and he wants to end his life so he can be with the victim.”

Pautler remains held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

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