DA: Webster Man Arrested In Wife's Death
WEBSTER (CBS) - Webster police are investigating what appears to be a tragic case of domestic homicide that left a 50-year-old wife and mother dead.
Police have arrested 50-year-old William Freudenthal and charged him with second degree murder after the body of his wife Jennifer was found on the bathroom floor of their Brookside Avenue home with severe injuries to her face and neck.
WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports.
Police were first called to the home at 12:30 p.m. for a domestic disturbance when IRS agents tried to repossess a family car for failure to pay taxes.
"There was aggressive action by Mr. Freudenthal directed at two IRS agents," said Worcester district attorney Joseph Early. "Webster police diffused the situation and got in between Mr. Freudenthal and the agents."
But the situation appears to have escalated. At 1:08 p.m., police were called to the house again, this time the victim was found. They won't indicate if a weapon was involved, but the possibility she may have hit her head during a struggle in the bathroom is being investigated.
Police say they have responded to the house in the past, although not recently.
"We have responded to domestic abuse, situations regarding the family," said Webster police chief Timothy Bent.
Neighbors say they had heard of financial stress on the family.
"You don't know what to do. The problem is nowadays tough times are everywhere," said Harry Young who lives up the street.
Investigators say it's a pattern they've seen too often.
"What we do see with financial problems is anxiety that's brought into these types of homes," said Early.
According to the district attorney, there have already been 2,000 cases of domestic abuse in Worcester County this year.
William Freudenthal will be arraigned in Dudley District Court on Wednesday.
