Delaware man allegedly stabs wife, dog to death and phones 911 to report crime, police say

A man allegedly slayed his wife and dog and then reported himself to authorities, Delaware State Police said.

Shortly before noon on Nov. 21, Richard W. Nelson, 69, phoned 911 and allegedly told a dispatcher he killed his wife, 74-year-old Sandra M. Nelson, and their dog.

A responding officer arrived at the couple’s Harrington home and went through a partially open garage door. “Upon entering, the officer observed the victim deceased on the floor in a pool of blood,” authorities said. “The officer backed out of the residence to wait for responding troopers before further entering the residence.”

While the officer waited, Nelson exited the home through the garage and surrendered to police without incident.

According to detectives, the elderly victim was stabbed multiple times in the garage and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A family dog was also found deceased in a bedroom from what appeared to also be stab wounds.

Nelson's charges include first-degree murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and cruelly or unnecessarily kills or injures any animal.

He is being held at the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $522,000 cash bond.