Woman shot at Carson City hospital dies; husband charged

By Sandra Chereb, Associated Press

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 | 12:15 p.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — An 86-year-old Nevada woman shot by her husband while hospitalized died Wednesday, and her husband of more than six decades was charged with murder, authorities said.

Francis Dresser of Douglas County died from injuries suffered when she was shot once in the chest Sunday while at Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Carson City Sheriff' Ken Furlong said. Authorities say the shooting was an apparent murder-suicide attempt.

Charges against her husband, William Dresser, were amended to murder.

William Dresser, 88, was arrested Sunday after firing one shot at his wife with a small-caliber handgun.

The shooting happened on the third floor in the hospital's rehabilitation ward, where Francis Dresser was being treated for a previous injury.

"Dresser suggested to officers that his motive was to end his wife's suffering," Furlong said.

According to a police report, he told officers he had brought four bullets — two for his wife, two for himself — but the gun jammed after the first shot.

Department of Corrections officers and hospital security subdued William Dresser until deputies arrived.

The man was "crying and mumbled words to the effect of, 'I did not accomplish my goal,'" an officer wrote.

Authorities were investigating William Dresser's claims that his wife became paralyzed after a fall at the couple's home two weeks ago. The couple had been married 63 years.

William Dresser remained at the Carson City jail on suicide watch, Furlong said.