Nancy J. Richards

Murder charge filed against Columbus man

By Chris Schilling, Reporter

A Columbus man was arrested this afternoon on murder charges following the death of his wife.

Robert Richards was booked into Bartholomew County Jail at 12:45 p.m. today on a preliminary charge of murder.

Nancy J. Richards, 44, of Road 25E, was found by a sheriff's deputy in her bed with a gunshot wound to the back of her head, according to Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department.

Richards' body was discovered as police investigated a suicide attempt by Richards' husband, Robert, who was found in a Columbus subdivision bleeding from a serious cut to his left wrist.

Robert Richards, whose age was unavailable Saturday morning, was taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for the wrist wound.

Robert and Nancy Richards had been married for seven years, Bartholomew County Sheriff Mark Gorbett said.


Additional note from ICADV:

Shot by husband, Robert (after telling him she filed for divorce), because he thought she was having an affair - he attempted to kill himself with a knife after the murder, but survived the suicide attempt.