Texas woman was charged on Saturday with killing her husband, which she admitted to doing to allegedly protect her children.
Police and Fire Rescue responded to reports of gunshots at a home in Odessa, Texas, at around 6:20 p.m. local time on the day, according to NewsWest9. Once there, they found a male victim, 58-year-old Joe Abril, with numerous gunshot wounds, including multiple to his chest and one to the back of his head. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but soon succumbed to his injuries.
Police later arrested their main suspect: Abril’s wife, 37-year-old Stephanie Tuell, whom police had found in the front yard when they arrived on the scene. She was booked at the Ector County Law Enforcement Center and received a charge of first-degree murder for knowingly and intentionally killing her husband. Her bond was set at $100,000.
Tuell, for her part, appeared to have no remorse over the incident, claiming to police that she had killed Abril to protect her children. “I wish I was sorry but I’m not,” Tuell said while being arrested, later adding, “No one messes with my kids.”
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First-degree murder charges in Texas can carry an eventual sentence of anywhere between five and 99 years in prison. Courts can also choose to level a maximum fine of $10,000.
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