John Biggs Jr. (KSAZ).
A 92-year-old Arizona man is behind bars after he allegedly stabbed his wife to death during an argument over finances as he was apparently suffering from dementia.
John Biggs Jr. stands accused of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault in the death of his 89-year-old wife Jane Biggs.
Officers with Goodyear police responded around 1:30 p.m. Aug. 24 to a home in the 15000 block of Amelia Drive for a deceased person, a press release said. John Biggs’ son traveled from out of state after receiving some concerning phone calls from his father.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime said the son entered the home and found his father sitting in a recliner. John Biggs allegedly told his son that he had stabbed his wife and he “should not go into the bedroom.” The son went into the room, where he found the victim in her nightgown on the bed with a large amount of blood around her.
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The victim was pronounced dead after police arrived. She had three or four stab wounds to the neck, as well as apparent defensive injuries to her hands and arms.
Cops spoke to the suspect’s son, who said his father had told him he believed the victim was stealing “a large amount of money from his account” and was saying mean things about him to his friends, the affidavit stated. The son said his father was sounding “overly paranoid and delusional” to the point that the son felt it necessary to travel from out of state to check on his dad.
In an interview after receiving his Miranda rights, John Biggs admitted to killing his wife. He said he “confronted” the victim about his investment documents and money but she denied taking anything.
“John Jr. believed he had lost everything and had nowhere else to go and became enraged to the point of killing the victim,” detectives wrote.
She tried to fight back and he continued to stab her, per the affidavit.
After stabbing the victim, he took several pills in a suicide attempt. He sat in the recliner and fell asleep until the next morning, when his son entered the home.
Defense attorney Zach Murphy said at a bond hearing attended by local Fox affiliate KSAZ that his client was apparently experiencing dementia.
“There appears to be some odd behavior that didn’t exist before,” Murphy told the court.
The defendant spent 25 years as a Maryland State Police trooper.
KSAZ reported it took about 20 minutes to get Biggs’ hearing aids working so he could understand what was going on during the bond hearing. He also reportedly tried to explain his side of the story before being quieted by his attorney.
A judge set his bond at $1 million. His next court date is set for Sept. 4.
The post 92-year-old ex-cop exhibiting ‘odd behavior’ stabbed wife to death with repeated jabs to neck, cops say first appeared on Law & Crime.
