A Missouri Woman's Medical Bills Were Piling Up. So Her Husband Strangled Her, Cops Say.

Law enforcement officials in Missouri said a man was behind bars after he allegedly strangled his wife while she lay in a hospital bed to get a new port for kidney dialysis.

Around 11:30 p.m. on May 3, Ronnie Wiggs allegedly attacked his wife, whose identity was not released, and then left Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, police claimed.

According to police, Wiggs then called a relative to take him back to the hospital. The relative allegedly told witnesses that Wiggs admitted to choking the victim.

One witness said they noted “suspicious” injuries and fresh wounds on the victim's neck, according to court records obtained by WDAF.

Authorities said Wiggs admitted to covering his wife’s nose and mouth in order to keep her from screaming and put his thumbs on her throat.

Wiggs said he tried to kill his wife twice before during hospital and rehabilitation stays, police said, and claimed he was depressed and couldn’t care for her or afford her medical bills.

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The suspect was arrested and initially charged with domestic assault. The charge was upgraded to second-degree murder after the victim was taken off life support and died.

He was being held on a $250,000 bond.