93-year-old man put a rope around his wife’s neck and tried to strangle her weeks after a failed pillow-smothering attempt just because he “was in pain” and didn’t want to leave her alone; arrested

Florida – In a shocking incident in Florida, a 93-year-old man, identified as H. Lockner, was arrested after attempting to kill his wife of more than half a decade. The distressing episode occurred in their home and has left the community and their family grappling with profound sadness and disbelief.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were called to the couple’s residence in the late afternoon of October 26, 2024. Upon arrival, they found Lockner’s wife visibly distressed and injured on the patio of their home, bleeding from her elbow with noticeable ligature marks around her neck.

Inside the house, Lockner was detained while still seated at the dining room table, eerily calm and engaged in a phone conversation. A piece of rope, reportedly used in the assault, was conspicuously placed on the table, hinting at the premeditated nature of the attack.

The victim shared with deputies that her husband had been suffering from severe pain, which had become a constant part of his daily life. His frequent expressions of a desire to end his life had become routine, yet the violent turn of events was unforeseen. She recounted how the day had started ordinarily, with the couple watching television together. It was during this mundane activity that Lockner made his move, attempting to strangle his wife from behind with a rope.

In a desperate struggle for life, the victim managed to wedge her hand between the rope and her neck, narrowly escaping death. She fled to the safety of the patio and called for help. During this critical moment, Lockner’s ominous words, “You can die with me,” were captured in the background of the 911 call.

Lockner was coherent and candid in his post-arrest interview, admitting to the attack. He expressed a twisted form of devotion, stating he did not want to leave his wife alone in the world as he faced his impending death. This was not the first attempt on her life; he confessed that two weeks prior, he had tried to smother her with a pillow while she slept.

His plan, as he told the authorities, was to kill his wife and then hang himself with the same rope. He described his actions as a moment of insanity, a “crazy idea” born out of desperation and a misguided sense of compassion.

Lockner faces charges of first-degree attempted murder, among other offenses. Held without bond, his arraignment is set for late November. The community and law enforcement are left to ponder the deeper societal issues highlighted by this case, such as the care and mental health support for the elderly.

The case has drawn attention to the need for better management of chronic pain and mental health issues among the aging population. As Lockner awaits his trial, the community and his family are left to reconcile the image of a man they once knew with the actions of a desperate individual overwhelmed by pain and loneliness. The tragedy serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding aging, sickness, and mental health in modern society.