A Florida man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to kill his wife on Christmas Day due to “financial and health issues,” authorities said.
Jonathan McPhee allegedly bludgeoned his wife Aileen McPhee in the head with a sledgehammer while she slept in their home on Dec. 25, according to a criminal complaint obtained.
Jonathan, 78, then called 911 and told the dispatcher, per the legal document, “I clubbed her, and I’m going to try to stab myself in the heart.”
Police said Jonathan then sent a text to his wife’s daughter, stating that he “killed” her and was going to kill himself because of “financial and health issues,” the complaint said.
He also detailed how to handle funeral arrangements and life insurance, according to authorities.
When police arrived at the scene, Jonathan was discovered outside the house with a “self-inflicted knife wound.” Aileen, meanwhile, was found by authorities inside the home “with severe injuries to her head.” The sledgehammer that was used to attack her was “located in the bed,” the criminal complaint said.
Both Jonathan and Aileen were later hospitalized at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. While being attended to at the medical facility, police said that Jonathan stated, “Just let me die. I killed my wife.”
Jonathan was arrested later that morning and charged with attempted murder in the first degree, according to jail records.
He currently remains in custody as of Sunday, Dec. 29. It is not immediately clear if Jonathan has legal representation to comment on his behalf.
Speaking with CBS affiliate WTSP, family friend John McCann said of Jonathan: “He is a person who has been very depressed and must have undergone an immense amount of pain to cause some sort of psychotic breakdown that would cause him to attack.”
