INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A grand jury has indicted a South Vero Beach man on first degree murder with a firearm and attempted escape from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office charges.
Asbury Perkins, 57, of the 2100 block of Seagrape Dr., Vero Beach, was indicted in the murder of his wife, which occurred in early November
Cynthia Betts, 63, was the victim of a fatal domestic dispute, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Perkins and Betts had domestic violence issues throughout their relationship, authorities said. Perkins has previous arrests for domestic violence battery against Betts.
“Today we mourn another tragic death at the hands of domestic violence,” Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said in November. “We know that one in three women will be the victim of domestic violence in their lifetime. Please talk to your family and friends about domestic violence, because it is a silent killer that lives within our community every day.”
In November, members of Betts’ family reached out to law enforcement, asking the agency to check on her welfare. They became concerned when she failed to answer her phone.
Authorities found that Betts was shot and killed. Perkins admitted to killing Betts because she took money out of their bank account without his knowledge, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He went on to tell them she continually “nagged” him.
