79-year-old man accused of slamming wife’s head against granite floor several times, killing her
07/19/2023 12:08 pm PDT
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, Minn. (TCD) -- Deputies arrested a 79-year-old man this week after he allegedly beat his wife to death by slamming her head into the ground.
According to a press release, on Monday, July 17, the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office received a call from someone who reported a "male had hurt a woman and she was dead" at a residence in rural Perham. Several law enforcement agencies arrived at the scene, including the Otter Tail County SWAT Team. Residents in the area were evacuated for safety reasons.
Court documents cited by Valley News Live allege Paul Mart admitted to his daughter that he killed his wife, 77-year-old Jean Mart, by hitting her head into some granite flooring. Afterward, he reportedly went to bed, and when he woke up in the morning, he saw she was naked and dead on the floor.
Mart allegedly told officers he would "shoot at them and they will have to kill him."
He eventually surrendered after his daughter helped with negotiations.
Valley News Live reports Mart told investigators he consumed a large amount of opiates and did not want to get incarcerated. He reportedly said Jean’s face looked black and blue.
The two allegedly got into an argument the night of Saturday, July 15, and he hit her head on the ground. He reportedly said he was "banging her around" on the granite floor.
Court documents reportedly say Mart had dried blood on his body. Detectives found a gun with blood on it in a trash can as well. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office determined Jean died from a gunshot wound and blunt force injuries to the head.
Otter Tail County Jail records show Mart was booked on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder.
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