In a tragic incident in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, an 84-year-old man, Barton Seltmann, has been charged with the murder of his wife, Margaret Seltmann, following a dispute over their cat's veterinary expenses.
The incident, reported by NBC10 Philadelphia, unfolded when Barton called 911 to report his wife as "unresponsive" at their Lower Pottsgrove Township home. Upon arrival, authorities discovered Margaret deceased, with Barton showing signs of a physical altercation.
The argument reportedly escalated from a verbal to a physical confrontation over the cost of their cat's medical care.
During the altercation, Margaret armed herself with a kitchen knife, threatening to stab Barton. In response, Barton pushed her with a chair, causing her to fall and hit her head on the floor.
He then assaulted her further, striking her head with a candleholder. During the attack, Margaret expressed fear for her life, to which Barton claimed she "went to sleep."
Investigators at the scene found a small kitchen knife under Margaret's body and fragments of broken glass from a candle jar. An autopsy later confirmed that Margaret died from blunt force injuries to the head, leading to the ruling of her death as a homicide.
Barton Seltmann, now facing charges of first-degree and third-degree murder, is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 5. The incident has left the family in shock, with Barton's brother, Ron Seltmann, expressing disbelief and sorrow over the event.
Ron described the couple, married for over three decades, as seemingly happy. He also mentioned concerns raised by Margaret about Barton potentially suffering from dementia.
