An elderly Montgomery County man mentioned he beat his spouse to demise after she grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him throughout an argument over their pet cat, in line with investigators.
Barton Seltmann, 84, is charged with murdering his spouse, Margaret Seltmann, 85, inside their home in Lower Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania.
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On Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 2:26 p.m., Lower Pottsgrove cops responded to a home on North Keim Street for a report of an unresponsive girl. The caller, later recognized as Barton Seltmann, advised 911 operators he believed his spouse was lifeless and that somebody “beat her,” in line with the affidavit of possible trigger.
Seltmann additionally mentioned that the kitchen of their home was ransacked and that his spouse was bleeding from the pinnacle, investigators mentioned.
When the officers arrived, they discovered Barton Seltmann on the rear porch together with his arms, face and clothes lined in blood, in line with the affidavit. The officers then discovered the physique of his spouse, Margaret Seltmann, contained in the kitchen. She was unresponsive with accidents to her head.
Barton Seltmann was handled by medics on the scene and advised them that he had injured his spouse throughout a combat, in line with investigators.
Barton Seltmann was taken to the Lower Pottsgrove Police Department. Investigators, in the meantime, discovered a small kitchen knife beneath Margaret Seltmann’s physique in addition to shards of glass from a damaged candle jar. They later decided she had been struck a number of instances within the head whereas on the bottom.
During an interview with investigators, Barton Seltmann claimed the ordeal started when he and his spouse had been arguing over money for the veterinary care of their pet cat, in line with the affidavit. Seltmann advised police the argument escalated when his spouse grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him, investigators mentioned.
Seltmann mentioned he then grabbed a 4-legged chair and pushed the legs of the chair into his spouse, in line with the affidavit. Seltmann advised investigators his spouse then fell again and struck her head on the ground, police mentioned.
Seltmann mentioned he didn’t spot a knife in his spouse’s hand however nonetheless repeatedly punched her after which used a candleholder to strike her within the head, in line with the affidavit. Seltmann mentioned his spouse said, “You’re killing me,” and that she then “went to sleep,” in line with investigators.
After the interview, Seltmann was arrested and charged with first-degree homicide and third-degree homicide. He was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and his preliminary listening to is scheduled for Dec. 5.
Online court docket information don’t listing an lawyer for Seltmann.
If you or somebody you understand is experiencing home violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
