LI man, 74, charged with killing sick wife in failed murder-suicide plot

A 74-year-old man from Long Island was charged with murder on Sunday after allegedly stabbing his 82-year-old wife to death inside their home in Wantagh. According to authorities, Anthony Heaton, who had been caring for his wife of 40 years as her health declined, intended to carry out a murder-suicide but ultimately backed out of the plan.

The tragic incident unfolded as Heaton struggled with the increasing challenges of caring for his ailing wife, as shared by Stephen Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of homicide with the Nassau County Police Department, in an interview with News12 Long Island. "Her health has been diminishing over the years, and the overwhelming stress of taking care of her and what comes with her declining health got to him," Fitzpatrick explained.

"He couldn’t take it, and he had planned to take her life and then commit suicide," Fitzpatrick continued. "He stabbed her multiple times, strangled her, and he caused her death. He then didn’t kill himself."

The authorities were alerted to the situation during a welfare check at the residence around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, where they discovered the victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, deceased on the floor.

Heaton was subsequently taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder. He is currently awaiting arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead.

Notably, there was no prior history of domestic violence reported in the couple's home on Oakland Avenue, according to the police.

Local residents expressed shock and disbelief at the tragic event. "Completely shocking," remarked Nicola Arteca to News12. "Not something we've ever expected to happen in a neighborhood, to happen in this neighborhood."