Newton County, MS: Husband Charged in Wife's Death

Newton County, Miss.
Newton County authorities have charged a husband with murder in a case that was initially reported as a suicide.
Posted: 12:35 PM Dec 8, 2009
Reporter: Stephen Bowers
Email Address: stephen.bowers@wtok.com
Tammy Bagwell of the Little Rock community in Newton County was a wife and mother of two.

She and her husband Edward were also taking care of their 13-year-old niece.

Newton County Sheriff Jackie Knight says that on Saturday Nov. 28, a 911 was made by Edward Bagwell, saying his wife Tammy had shot and killed herself in her home on Burton Road.

"I had several questions about the scene, about the way everything looked," said Knight. "After investigating, we formally charged Mr. Bagwell with murder."

Knight responded with Chief Deputy Randy Patrick the night of the 911 call. He says the scene was not consistent with suicide. That's when the sheriff and investigators from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation started doing some digging.

"The placement of the weapon, where it was in relation to where the body was, and a few more things that we don't want to get into now," said Knight, "but there were several things not consistent with suicide."

Knight said Tammy's family never believed she would kill herself.

"Their thoughts, right off the bat, they said 'he killed her'," said Knight.

Edward Bagwell was charged Monday with murder, nine days after his wife's death.

"Mr. Bagwell said that she has asked him for a divorce, and I don't think he wanted to give her one," Knight said.

Tammy Bagwell is survived by her son and daughter as well as her mother, two brothers, and three sisters. The children are now staying with their grandmother.