Botched Murder/Suicide Sends Man To Hospital

"TUCSON, AZ - A 56-year-old woman was killed by her husband early Thursday in what police say was intended to be a murder-suicide.

"Police received a 911 call at 4:43 a.m. from a 51-year-old man who said he had just killed his wife and then had taken pills in an attempt to take his own life, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

"When officers arrived at the home in the 4500 block of East Malvern Street, near South Swan Road and East 22nd Street, they found Mary D. Garfinkel dead and her husband, Sanford I. Garfinkel, suffering the effects of having taken an unknown quantity of pills, Pacheco said.

"Garfinkel told police his wife, who would have turned turn 57 on Saturday, was terminally ill, Pacheco said. Garfinkel said he had then consumed pills in an attempt to overdose, Pacheco said.

"Police have not been able to confirm if Mary Garfinkel was terminally ill, but neighbors said the woman had been sick and wasn't getting better, Pacheco said. Her cause of death was not divulged pending an autopsy.

"Sanford Garfinkel was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment. He is expected to be booked on suspicion of first-degree murder after being treated, Pacheco said."

From azstarnet.com...