Man Accused Of Killing Wife Charged With Murder

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4)- A man accused of murdering his wife has been charged with first-degree murder. David Reathman appeared before a judge in Jefferson County on Thursday.

Officers responded a home in the 400 block of Zeta Street on a welfare check on March 25. Relatives had called police to ask they check on Reathman, 65, because he was terminally ill.

Instead they found the body of his wife, Barbara, 70. Police said she was found with her wrists and ankles bound in duct tape in only her underwear. Police said there were signs of strangulation.

After days of searching for Reathman he turned himself in on March 28.

According to the arrest affidavit Reathman had financial problems and a gambling addiction for some time.

He found out he had Stage 5 cancer in Dec. 2012 but only told his daughter of his terminal diagnosis. His daughter encouraged him to tell his wife.

Police said that's when he began thinking about murder-suicide. Reathman had intended to go the mountains to die after allegedly strangling his wife but instead decided to turn himself in to authorities.