An elderly Florida man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after he allegedly attempted to murder his wife of more than 60 years on two occasions.
Police received a call from the wife of 93-year-old Helmut Lockner who said that her husband had just tried to kill her, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by WCJB.
Lockner was arrested Oct. 26 after his wife told officials that the two had been watching TV when he mentioned that he "wanted to die" and that he was in pain, which his wife told officers is something he says often, the affidavit stated, according to WESH.
Allegedly, he slipped a rope around his wife's neck and tried to strangle her, but his wife told police that she was able to get her hand between the rope and her neck and broke away. She then ran to the patio to call first responders, who said Lockner could be heard in the background saying, "You can die with me," according to the affidavit.
His wife told police that he allegedly attempted to smother her with a pillow two weeks prior, but she said she did not think he would try again.
Lockner reportedly told police that he did not want to leave his wife alone after he died, and that he planned to kill himself after killing her. His wife told authorities they have been married for more than 60 years.
"I've been at the sheriff's office for five and a half years and I've never seen anything like this," Zach Moore, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, told WCJB.
Lockner was booked into Marion County Jail.
