A Missouri man is accused of shooting his wife in the back of the head and then calling 911 with a very different story, allegedly claiming she had simply fallen inside their home.
Cody A. Chilcutt, 32, has been charged with first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action in connection with the Aug. 14 shooting, according to court records.
Deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office were called to the couple’s home at around 7 a.m. after a shooting was reported.
Emergency crews rushed the woman, whose name has not been released, to a local hospital.
Doctors later determined that she had suffered injuries consistent with being shot in the back of the head or neck, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The woman survived.
She later told deputies that she and her husband had been walking out of their bedroom when she suddenly felt an intense pain in the back of her head before collapsing to the floor.
Investigators said Chilcutt initially claimed he had no idea what had happened.
According to the affidavit, Chilcutt told deputies he had been walking behind his wife when he heard a loud noise and then watched her fall and hit her head.
But investigators said evidence inside the home told a different story.
Authorities determined that the woman appeared to have been shot from inside the residence, leading detectives to focus on Chilcutt.
After being read his Miranda rights, Chilcutt allegedly changed his story.
Investigators said he admitted that he had shot his wife while standing behind her.
Prosecutors are now alleging the shooting was not accidental or spontaneous.
In a filing asking the court to hold Chilcutt without bond, prosecutors said evidence showed the attack was premeditated.
According to the filing, Chilcutt allegedly “planned the attack” and “planned for the victim to die from her injuries.”
Prosecutors also said he shot his wife “in the back of the head” before calling 911 and reporting that she had fallen.
Those allegations led prosecutors to argue that Chilcutt poses both a danger to his wife and the community, as well as a potential flight risk.
He is currently being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail.
Chilcutt is scheduled to appear in court for a bond review hearing on Aug. 25.
The case remains pending, and the charges against him are allegations unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
