Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office have charged a Litchfield Park man with the murder of his wife.
According to MCSO, 53-year-old Elias Udechime was charged on September 5 with second-degree murder in the death of his wife, 39-year-old Chinonye Udechime.
MCSO was called by Elias just after 5:00 a.m. on September 24, 2015. The suspect claimed to have found his wife in bed, not breathing and cold to the touch. Elias told MCSO she had taken medicine the night before and made suicidal thoughts.
MCSO investigators questioned the suspect and learned him and his wife were involved in a fight in February 2015. Elias was arrested for domestic violence assault.
In June 2016, the victim’s body was taken to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner. It was ruled Chinonye’s death was a homicide.
On September 5, 2017, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect and he was taken into custody for second-degree murder.
