Carson City Sheriff: Woman in hospital murder-suicide attempt dies, husband faces murder charge
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 01/22/2014 - 10:28am
The victim of Sunday morning's shooting at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center has died, said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong.
The victim, Francis Dresser, 86, and her husband, lived of Douglas County. Carson City sheriff’s detectives have amended the arrest charges for William Dresser, Francis’ husband, to murder. Dresser remains in custody on suicide watch at the Carson City Jail on $225,000 bond.
William Dresser, 88, told a Carson City Sheriff's deputy that the handgun he had used jammed and that he didn't complete what he set out to do, which was to kill his wife of 63 years and then turn the gun on himself. Dresser told the deputy that his wife was in an accident recently and as a result she became paralyzed. He stated he came to the hospital with a gun and four bullets, two for his wife and two for him, he told the officer.
The following is a recap of events.
On Sunday morning, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office was informed of the shooting at the Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center. According to initial reports, the victim’s husband, William Dresser, visited his wife on the third floor of the hospital. Francis Dresser was alone in her Rehabilitation Room.
William Dresser fired one shot from a small caliber semi-automatic pistol into her chest. According to statements made by William Dresser at the scene, he had intended to kill his wife and himself, but the gun malfunctioned. Dresser was detained by Nevada Department of Corrections Officers and hospital staff until Sheriff’s Deputies arrived. Dresser suggested to officers that his motive was to end his wife’s suffering.
Although the incident was immediately confined to the patient’s room, the Carson hospital was placed in lockdown, which remained in effect for approximately 2 hours.
It has been determined that the suspect’s wife was in the hospital for an injury previously incurred. No foul play was previously suspected and details regarding her condition or treatment prior to the shooting will not be released. Following the incident, the victim was transported to Renown Medical Center in Reno where she died early this morning.
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