A 71-year-old Florida woman is now in custody for allegedly attempting to kill her husband after he received a postcard from a woman he dated 60 years ago.
According to Miami-Dade County court records obtained by Fox 13, Bertha Yalter was arrested Thursday after police responded to a home in North Miami Beach and found an “extremely fragile” victim with open sores, lacerations, bruising, and bite marks.
The victim, identified as Yalter’s husband of 52 years, said Yalter tried to smother him with a pillow after he received correspondence from a girlfriend he knew six decades ago. Police arrested Yalter on several charges, including second-degree murder, after interviewing both her and the victim.
During a subsequent court hearing, a public defender argued that there was no evidence to suggest the defendant had been trying to kill the victim.
“Judge, there is nothing indicating she was trying to kill him,” the lawyer said, pushing for a downgraded charge of domestic battery, Law&Crime reports.
The prosecution argued that putting a pillow over the victim’s face “that would suffocate and kill him” should be considered attempted murder.
“I think she also admitted to urinating on him,” the state’s attorney added. “So, I think if you look at the totality of the circumstances, this appears to be more than a domestic battery by strangulation.”
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Ellen Sue Venzer subsequently agreed with the state.
In addition to second-degree murder, Yalter is also facing aggravated battery against an elderly person and tampering with a witness or victim charges.
It’s unclear what the postcard said. Check back for updates.
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[Featured Photo: Bertha Yalter/Miami-Dade County Jail]
