Friday, December 23, 2011

Burke County, NC: Elderly woman accused of killing husband

Posted: 3:58 pm EST December 20, 2011
Updated: 5:10 pm EST December 20, 2011

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. -- An elderly woman was charged with homicide after investigators say she shot and killed her 88-year-old husband.

Burke County sheriff’s deputies said Janey Brittain, 85, called 911 on Tuesday after the shooting, which happened at the couple’s home near Connnelly Springs.

“I have killed someone. Please send someone to my house,” the caller said to Burke County 911.

In a recording, you can hear the caller, who deputies said was Janey Brittain, tell the 911 operator more than once she killed her husband.

“What do you mean you killed somebody? What happened?” the operator asked.

“I mean I killed somebody,” she replied.

“Tell me what happened, ma’am,” the operator said.

“I just shot him,” she said.

Sheriff’s deputies said they had been to the home 24 hours earlier for a domestic abuse call.

“She had alleged that there had been some domestic violence. Not physical -- more mental,” Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant said.

Deputies said they spent three hours with Janey Brittain but did not find any signs of physical abuse. As a precaution, they took her to a domestic violence shelter in Morganton but she left and returned home on Monday night.

Deputies said they found her husband dead on the floor in their bedroom.

“It’s very difficult because the holiday season and you see a husband dead and wife in custody,” Whisenant said. “(It’s) very sad all the way around.”

Brittain is scheduled to appear before a judge on Wednesday in Morganton.

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