A Missouri man who killed his pregnant wife with a mallet in 2019 was sentenced to life in jail with out parole Friday, the St. Louis County prosecutor’s workplace stated.
A jury convicted Beau Rothwell, 31, in April of first-degree homicide in Jennifer Rothwell’s slaying in Creve Coeur, west of St. Louis.
Before she was killed, Jennifer Rothwell had appeared up “what to do if your husband is upset you are pregnant,” search warrants within the case confirmed, in accordance to NBC affiliate KSDK of St. Louis.
Beau Rothwell testified at trial that he killed his wife throughout a heated argument over his affair with one other girl, however the killing was not premeditated.
Jennifer Rothwell was reported lacking on Nov. 12, 2019. But detectives who searched their residence discovered blood in carpet, which had additionally been soaked in bleach, police have stated. Beau Rothwell was charged with homicide even earlier than her physique was discovered.
Beau Rothwell testified that he was in a “red haze” of anger when the killing occurred, and his attorneys sought conviction on voluntary manslaughter as a substitute of homicide, the St. Louis County prosecutor’s workplace has said. The jury convicted him of homicide on April 28.
In courtroom Friday, Rothwell apologized to his wife’s household and stated, “words cannot describe how sorry I am,” KSDK reported.
Jennifer Rothwell’s mom, Robin Von Hausen, stated that “Jennifer was a bright light in our lives,” and that, “We thought we would have more than 28 years with her,” in accordance to the station.
Beau Rothwell was convicted of homicide, tampering with proof, and abandonment of a corpse, the prosecutor’s workplace stated.
“We knew with a conviction on Murder 1st Degree that this man who killed his pregnant wife would spend the rest of his life in prison without eligibility for parole,” prosecuting lawyer Wesley Bell stated in an announcement. “That is what we intended for him to do, and today confirms that is what he is going to do.”
The Associated Press contributed.