Kansas man, 70, faces murder charge after wife dies in Wichita hospital, official says

A 70-year-old Newton man faces a first-degree murder charge after his wife died over the weekend in a Wichita hospital, Newton spokesperson Erin McDaniel said Tuesday morning.

Peggy Sue Altum died at Wesley Medical Center, where she was taken early Friday after being found shot at her home in north Newton. Police were called around 1:45 a.m. to the 2000 block of Terrace Drive.

Edward Altum reported “his wife had been shot and refused to answer any further questions,” McDaniel said in a news release. He was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of his 74-year-old wife, but he now faces first-degree murder after her death, McDaniel said.

Police found a gun at the scene. The news release did not say what led to the shooting.

McDaniel said there were no previous domestic violence calls to that home.

This story was originally published December 19, 2023 at 9:33 AM.