• Bonnie Tietgens arrested on suspicion of killing husband with wooden billy club
• Woman allegedly told children father was dead before they found body
• Authorities say suspect tried destroying evidence by starting washing machine cycle

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (TDR) — Authorities arrested a 60-year-old woman on suspicion of killing her 64-year-old husband with a billy club, then attempting to destroy evidence as deputies arrived at the scene, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

On the night of Oct. 8, deputies responded to a home on Birch Drive shortly before 10:30 p.m., where they located William Tietgens deceased. The discovery came after the victim’s adult children received a disturbing phone call from their mother and rushed to the residence.

Mother’s chilling admission to children

According to the sheriff’s office, detectives determined that earlier in the evening, Bonnie Tietgens tried to contact her adult son by phone. When the son returned the call around 9 p.m., she told him “Dad was dead” and admitted to striking him with a wooden billy club in the head.

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The son contacted his sister and the siblings went to the home after being unable to reach their father. Upon entering the residence sometime after 10 p.m., they discovered their father lying on the ground with severe trauma to the head and immediately called 911.

Bonnie Tietgens had reportedly tried multiple times to reach her son before he returned her call. The children’s quick response and cooperation with law enforcement became crucial to the investigation.

Evidence destruction attempt in deputies’ presence

Deputies located Bonnie Tietgens in the garage standing near a washing machine with a blood-soaked blanket on the ground beside her. The machine was loaded with blood-soaked clothing and towels.

As she was being taken into custody, Tietgens was in the process of pressing the start cycle on the machine, apparently attempting to destroy potential evidence. The alleged evidence tampering occurred in front of responding officers, who were able to stop the washing cycle and preserve the items for forensic analysis.

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Deputies attempted life-saving measures when they arrived, but William Tietgens was pronounced dead at the scene. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim during this tragic time,” said Sheriff Richard Del Toro.

Serious charges filed in domestic case

Tietgens was arrested and faces charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. The second-degree murder charge indicates prosecutors believe the killing was intentional but may not have been premeditated, distinguishing it from first-degree murder.

Florida law defines tampering with evidence as knowingly altering, destroying, concealing, or removing physical evidence with the intent to impair its availability in an official proceeding. The charge is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Tietgens is presumed innocent until proven guilty. She is currently being held in the St. Lucie County Jail without bond. Details about her potential defense strategy or whether she has retained legal counsel have not been publicly released.

History of domestic issues reported

Longtime neighbors reported that the Tietgens had a rocky past. “They definitely had their history, you know, drinking and fighting. It’s just it was kind of just a common occurrence for years,” one neighbor said.

According to Sheriff Del Toro, William Tietgens was arrested several years ago on domestic violence charges by the Port St. Lucie Police Department. He said since then there have been no calls to the residence in recent years.

According to police reports, Tietgens claimed her husband had sexually assaulted her earlier in the day, saying he had been “kissing her ears” and “rubbing her,” according to the affidavit. These allegations have not been independently verified and remain part of the ongoing investigation.

Investigation continues

Crime scene investigators spent extensive time at the Indian River Estates home gathering evidence. Deputies documented a trail of blood droplets in the living room leading to the bedroom where the victim was found.

The sheriff’s office has not disclosed what may have precipitated the violence on Oct. 8. Investigators continue examining physical evidence and interviewing witnesses as they build their case for prosecution.

Tietgens will face arraignment in coming weeks, where she will enter a formal plea to the charges. If convicted of second-degree murder, she could face up to life in prison under Florida sentencing guidelines.

Should evidence tampering charges carry enhanced penalties when committed in the immediate presence of law enforcement officers responding to a crime scene?

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