INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 58-year-old man who fatally stabbed his wife late Friday told deputies he wanted to put the woman – who had a central nervous system disorder – “out of her misery,” reports show.
Gary Alan Stump
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Gary Alan Stump told deputies his 69-year-old wife was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, reports show. Stump said the decision to kill the woman had been weighing on him more and more lately.
“He brutally murdered his wife,” Indian River County sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers said, noting that detectives continue to investigate the circumstances of the homicide. “(We believe) there’s still more to the story.”
Those with Parkinson’s disease can experience tremors, stiffness in their limbs and balance problems. It was not immediately known if deputies been called to Stump’s home on previous occasions.
This is the second homicide to happen in the county this year, Flowers said.
Deputies said Stump stabbed his wife several times Friday inside their home, located in the 700 block of 41st Avenue.
Deputies last week arrested Stump on a charge of first-degree murder. Stump was held Monday at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
Indian River County dispatchers got a call from Stump about 8 p.m. Friday. Stump told dispatchers he used a knife to kill his wife, reports show.
Deputies went to Stump’s home and took him into custody.
Deputies found the fatally injured woman lying on the bed inside the home, reports show. A knife with a blue handle covered in blood was also on the bed.
Stump told deputies his wife was “flopping around” in an attempt to get out of bed earlier that day. He said if she fell, he would have had trouble getting her back in the bed, reports show.
Stump told deputies he “just couldn’t see her in pain anymore,” reports show.
Deputies arrested Stump and took him to the county jail. Stump has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. April 12, court records show.
