Woman Charged With Second-Degree Murder In Fatal Shooting Of Husband
SHELBY TWP. (WWJ) -- A Macomb County woman has been formally charged in the murder of her husband, claiming in court that she was the victim of abuse.
Julie Chimelak, 61, was charged with second-degree murder on Monday in the fatal shooting her 75-year-old husband, Ronald, with a revolver in the family's Macomb Township home on Wednesday.
Julie claims that she suffers from a biopolar disorder and Battered Woman Syndrome, saying that Ronald threatened to kill her for four months.
Investigators say the physical evidence from the scene doesn't support that Julie was in any direct danger from her husband at the time of his death.
Police say Julie called 911 around 4:35 p.m. Wednesday and said she had accidentally shot her husband inside of their home in the 20200 block of Nicol Creek Drive, in a neighborhood near Hall and Heydenreich roads in Macomb Township.
Sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene to find Ronald on his bedroom floor with Julie at his side, attempting to perform CPR. They also located and recovered a Smith & Wesson, six shot, .357 caliber revolver from the bedroom.
Paramedics transported Ronald to Henry Ford Macomb Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He had a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Julie's $750,000 bond was continued and she remains in custody until her next hearing on December 14.
