Florida man allegedly suffocated wife to death because of medical and financial struggles

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (TCN) -- An 80-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of fatally suffocating his sleeping wife, who had Alzheimer’s.

On Sep. 22, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Kaidon Lane to what the probable cause statement says was a "suicide threat." While en route, deputies learned Richard Scharf allegedly killed his wife and was threatening to take his own life.

Deputies made contact with one of Scharf’s neighbors who was reportedly inside the garage as Scharf sat in the driver’s seat of an SUV. Authorities told Scharf to exit the vehicle, and he complied. According to the probable cause statement, Scharf told deputies he took a large amount of over-the-counter medication to kill himself, and emergency medical services personnel transported him to a hospital for treatment.

Deputies purportedly found another witness in a bedroom next to the deceased victim, who was on the bed. Despite responders’ efforts to revive the female victim, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Inside the residence, authorities reportedly found an apology note attached to a will.

Following his release from the hospital, Scharf spoke with detectives and allegedly explained that the victim had Alzheimer’s and her condition had worsened. According to court documents, Scharf said she also had severe jaw pain, and they were undergoing "financial stress as their retirement money was running out."

On the day of the incident, Scharf and his wife reportedly attended church in the morning and then drove home. The probable cause statement alleges that during the drive, Scharf "came to terms with the fact he was going to end the decedent’s pain and suffering."

While the victim was napping, Scharf allegedly covered her face with a "bathroom towel and a pillow to smother her." After her death, Scharf reportedly wrote multiple notes addressed to family members detailing what had happened before he went into the garage with the door closed and started the SUV with the intention of killing himself.

According to court documents, Scharf called one of his daughters while he was inside the car and told her what had happened and then hung up. Authorities noted that Scharf’s children live out of state. The daughter then called the witnesses, who opened the garage door, found Scharf, and discovered the victim deceased in the bedroom.

Scharf faces a charge of second-degree murder and remains held in the Lee County Jail.

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