NORTH FORT MYERS, FL – An 80-year-old man is in custody, accused of killing his wife after the couple returned home from church, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say Richard Scharf from North Fort Myers is charged with murder after allegedly smothering his wife, who had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease with severe and worsening symptoms.

On the afternoon of Sept. 22, Scharf reportedly attempted suicide after the incident, leaving a note and informing family members via a phone call. Deputies responded to a distress call indicating that Scharf had threatened to take his own life after admitting to killing his wife.

When deputies arrived at the residence on Kaidon Lane, they found Scharf sitting inside an SUV in the garage. He allegedly told the officers he had ingested a large quantity of over-the-counter pills in an attempt to end his life. Inside the house, deputies discovered his wife unresponsive on her bed, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m. A note of apology was found attached to a will on a desk in the home.

Investigators said Scharf’s actions started to unfold after he came to terms with his wife’s declining health and their diminishing retirement funds while driving back from church. Scharf allegedly decided to end his wife’s suffering, particularly from Alzheimer’s disease and severe jaw pain, by smothering her as she napped.

Afterward, Scharf closed the garage, started the SUV, and called one of his daughters to confess his actions. The daughter, living out of state, was made aware of the situation and contacted someone in the neighborhood to check on the Scharf residence, leading to the discovery of the events by a witness who opened the garage door just as deputies arrived.

Post-arrest, Scharf reportedly admitted his intentions and provided a detailed account of his actions to the authorities. He mentioned that he left several explanatory notes for family members before attempting to commit suicide, believing he would be arrested.

Scharf has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno expressed sorrow over the loss of life, emphasizing the tragic nature of the case and commending the deputies and detectives for swiftly concluding the investigation.