VERO BEACH — “Why did you make me do this, Kathy?” Those were the words 911 dispatch heard when 68-year-old Earl Lee Boggess called to report he had just shot his wife.
With an open line, dispatch also heard Boggess say, “You (expletive) with the wrong man, (expletive).”
Vero Beach Police responded to the home, located at 2044 17th St., one minute later at 5:10 p.m. and found Boggess pacing in front of the patio doors leading from the kitchen to the pool deck while holding a firearm, according to the arrest affidavit. A second gun was on a table nearby on the patio.
For 40 minutes authorities, including the Vero Beach Police Department’s SWAT unit, attempted to call Boggess and get him to comply with orders to drop his gun. By the end, Boggess began to put the gun to his head, prompting an officer to fire a non-lethal bean bag at Boggess, rendering him incapacitated, the arrest report states.
Boggess was then taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities found Boggess’ 60-year-old wife’s body on the kitchen floor with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Kathryn D. Boggess was declared dead on the scene.
Upon searching the home, police secured a revolver and a black semi-automatic firearm, the report states.
According to authorities, there were no signs of a struggle between the couple and no motive was revealed in the report.
Boggess faces a second-degree murder charge, according to his booking report on the Sheriff’s Office website. He is currently being held without bond.
