Pennsylvania man, Barton Seltmann accused of killing his wife Margaret Seltmann over veterinary cat bill.
Police in Pennsylvania have arrested and charged an 84-year-old man with beating his 85-year-old wife to death during an argument over a veterinary bill for their cat.
According to a police affidavit, 84-year-old Barton Seltmann called 911 around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, after claiming that someone had ransacked his home in Lower Pottsgrove. He told dispatchers that his wife, 85-year-old Margaret Seltmann, appeared dead.
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He further claimed in the 911 call that the intruder had “beaten her”. Upon arrival, first responders found Margaret dead on the kitchen floor. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office stated that she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
Barton was found on the back porch with blood on his hands, face, and clothing, according to the district attorney’s office.
It was later discovered, according to the affidavit, that Barton and Margaret were fighting over money for the veterinary care of their pet cat, as reported by an octogenarian.
Barton then started talking. He told authorities that the argument turned physical when his wife, Margaret, allegedly grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him. He said that he then grabbed a chair and shoved it towards his wife’s legs, causing her to fall and hit her head on the floor.
He told investigators that he repeatedly punched her and struck her on the head with a candleholder, according to the affidavit. According to the affidavit, investigators stated that Margaret told her husband, “You’re killing me” and then “went to sleep.”
A small kitchen knife and shards of glass from a candle jar were found underneath Margaret’s body, according to investigators.
Barton was charged with first- and third-degree murder and detained without bail to the Montgomery County Facility, as indicated by online records.
The cat is now being cared for by a family member, as confirmed by the DA’s Office.
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The suspect may have been experiencing memory loss in the weeks leading up to the killing, and his wife had even expressed concerns that he was suffering from dementia, according to relatives who spoke to WPVI-TV.
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