Autopsy for Ohio woman allegedly shot by husband in ICU

AKRON, Ohio — A coroner’s office has scheduled an autopsy for a northwest Ohio woman who was shot in her hospital bed, allegedly by her husband of 45 years.

Capt. Dan Zampelli says an initial court appearance for 66-year-old John Wise likely wouldn’t come until at least Tuesday. He says police needed results of the autopsy Monday to decide what charge would be appropriate, but Wise will likely face a murder charge.

Police say Wise entered 65-year-old Barbara Wise’s hospital room Saturday and shot her while standing at her bedside at the intensive care unit. She was declared dead at Akron General Medical Center Sunday morning.

Zampelli told the Akron Beacon Journal that the shooting may have been an attempted mercy killing.

“It seems to be slanting that way,” Zampelli said. “He wanted to take away her suffering.”

The couple had been married 45 years.

Jim Gosky, a spokesman for the medical center, said one shot was fired and security officers reached the ICU in about one minute. A doctor was in a nearby room.

It’s unclear why Barbara Wise had been admitted to the ICU a few days earlier.