Wisconsin – Wisconsin authorities announced the arrest of a 39-year-old defendant, J. Redford, earlier this week, who is now charged with first-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon in connection with the shooting death of his spouse. The defendant is now charged with first-degree reckIess homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon in connection with the death of his spouse, 25-year-old Sabina. The arrest came exactly nine years after the woman’s death, which had initially been reported as a suicide.

In April 2016, the defendant reportedly called 911 from their home in Wisconsin, reporting that his spouse had been shot. He claimed that after confronting the woman about an alleged affair and stating his intention to dlvorce her, she retrieved firearm, declared she couldn’t live without him, and shot herself in the chest while holding the gun with two hands.

However, Wisconsin authorities found several inconsistencies in the defendant’s account. The Wisconsin Crime Lab reported no bIood or blowback material on the barrel or muzzle of the gun, which would be expected if the firearm had been discharged in close contact with the body.

Additionally, when emergency responders removed the victim’s sweatshirt to perform CPR, they observed no bIood on her chest area, contradicting the defendant’s claim of administering CPR for ten minutes prior to their arrival.

Further scrutiny of the 911 call revealed that approximately 1 minute and 31 seconds into the conversation, he stated, “I can’t believe…,” followed by an unintelligible word that investigators believe may have been “I,” suggesting a possible admission of guilt.

Over the course of nine years, the County Sheriff’s Office conducted multiple interviews, re-examined evidence with advanced forensic technology, and consulted expert witnesses. These efforts led to the determination that the victim’s death was not a suicide.

The defendant was arrested and transported to the county jail, where he remains in custody on an $800,000 cash bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on June 9.

The victim’s family expressed gratitude for the persistent efforts of law enforcement, stating, “We are grateful for the continued efforts of the investigators who have remained committed to uncovering the truth and seeking justice.”