FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (TCN) —Â A 43-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for killing his wife, who had a significant life insurance policy.
The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial District of Arkansas announced Sept. 30 that a jury found Jason Dunigan guilty of capital murder in connection with the death of his wife, Amber Dunigan. A judge sentenced him to life in prison.
According to prosecutors, on May 28, 2021, the defendant called 911 and said he found his wife in her vehicle on a highway with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Jason Dunigan reportedly said he had met his wife at the location earlier that day when he was having mechanical issues with a car he was driving. When his wife failed to return home, he claimed he went to look for her and discovered her deceased.
Investigators searched the vehicle and noticed that no cash or valuables had been stolen, so they ruled out a robbery. There was also no firearm in the car, so authorities determined the victim didn’t take her own life.
According to the prosecuting attorney’s office, officials located a small piece of neon green fabric on the decedent’s body that matched the defendant’s work uniform shirts. Investigators concluded that one of Dunigan’s work shirts was wrapped around the gun to muffle the sound when it went off. Prosecutors said Dunigan provided an inconsistent story to investigators.
Dunigan was reportedly in a sexual relationship with another woman, and officials learned his wife had a “sizable” life insurance policy. Police reportedly obtained phones from the defendant and victim, as well as a security system from Dunigan’s residence. The security system had reportedly been shut off for around two hours when the victim was killed.
In the weeks and months leading up to the fatal shooting, the defendant had reportedly looked up different circumstances in which life insurance policies would and would not be paid, as well as firearm forensics and accidental deaths.
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