A man in Florida faces charges for allegedly attempting to murder his wife after a failed murder-suicide incident on Christmas Day, according to police reports.
On December 25, Jonathan McPhee, 78, was admitted to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital and subsequently faced charges of first-degree attempted murder by Largo Police. A criminal complaint reveals that McPhee attacked his wife with a sledgehammer while she was asleep in their home on Christmas morning. McPhee subsequently contacted emergency services and reportedly informed the dispatcher, “I hit her, and I’m going to attempt to stab myself in the heart.”
Upon the arrival of law enforcement at the McPhee residence, they discovered McPhee outside the dwelling with a “self-inflicted knife wound.” McPhee’s spouse was discovered inside, unresponsive. Both individuals were transported to the hospital in a critical state.
The criminal complaint revealed that prior to the police’s arrival, McPhee texted his wife’s daughter, claiming he had “killed” his wife and intended to take his own life due to “financial and health issues.” McPhee shared insights on managing funeral plans and life insurance matters.
McPhee and his wife emerged from the harrowing experience, though she endured a “significant brain bleed,” as reported by Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA. McPhee allegedly expressed to the medical staff attending to him, “just let me die, I killed my wife.”
A neighbor of the McPhees shared with CBS affiliate WTSP that Jonathan McPhee appeared to be “very depressed” and suggested that he “must have undergone an immense amount of pain,” which seemingly resulted in “some sort of a psychotic breakdown.”