Saturday, February 15th, 2020
Grand jury declines to indict
Woman who shot, killed husband won't be charged
By Leslie Gartrell
ST. MARYS - A St. Marys-area woman won't face charges after shooting her husband to death at their home on Feb. 8.
An Auglaize County Grand Jury declined to charge Stephanie Sweigart, 30, for any offenses related to the death of husband Wesley Sweigart, 36, according to a news release Friday from the sheriff's office and county prosecutor Edwin Pierce.
"Justice was reached," Sweigart's attorney Seneca Konturas told the newspaper on Friday. "It's clearly a tragedy for everyone. This at least will allow everyone to go forward. … It's truly an opportunity to heal."
Sweigart had been arrested on a felony charge of murder in the early hours of Feb. 8. Sheriff's deputies and St. Marys police officers responded at 3:32 a.m. to 255 Pershing Drive in the Sandy Beach area, where they found Wesley Sweigart dead inside the residence, according to sheriff's office information.
In the Feb. 8 call to 911 released by the sheriff's office, Stephanie Sweigart told the dispatcher that she had killed her husband after he had been beating her. Sweigart said she had been in a physical altercation with him and that he had brandished a knife, making her fear for her life. She said she had sneaked her gun out before he was able to find it.
"I ran because I was trying to get - He made me go back in the bedroom after physically assaulting me in the living room. He told me that if I didn't go to the bedroom he was gonna hurt me. He was gonna stab me. He had a knife, and I just, just listened. I didn't know what else to do because my phone was in the living room," Sweigart told the operator.
Sheriff's officials contacted Sweigart family members before releasing the 911 audio recording.
Sweigart's bond had been set at $250,000, subject to a 10% cash option, in combination with an own-recognizance bond.
She posted bond on Thursday morning. Sweigart had made her initial appearance in court on Monday via video from the Auglaize County jail.
Konturas praised the county prosecutor's office as well as all law enforcement involved for working in conjunction to reach justice. Sweigart is reunited with her family and feels relieved, Konturas said.
