Man Killed Wife, Then Himself, Claiming ‘Merciful Ending’ Because of Her Alzheimer’s

The call came through Ottowa County Central Dispatch at 8:58 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. 

“I’ve given my wife a merciful ending from her Alzheimer’s disease,” the Michigan man said in the 911 call obtained by PEOPLE. “And, uh, I am going to follow her now in death.”

William and Donna Kitzmiller – both 80 and of Grand Haven Charter Township, Mich. – died that day, according to their joint obituary, which called the couple who were married for 54 years “true partners in life.”

Serving in the U.S. Army, and, later working 30 years in law enforcement, Bill retired as a sergeant from the Grand Haven City Police Department. Donna – who he met when they were students at Albion College – went on to a decades-long career as an elementary school teacher at Grand Haven Area Public Schools.

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PEOPLE obtained the 911 audio and call log in response to a public information request identifying the requested records by the couple’s full names. The caller’s name was redacted from all records provided. Details of the obituary – including their township and date of death – corresponded with the records.

The couple was first identified by MLIVE/ The Grand Rapids Press, which matched the 911 call to death certificates and the obituary.

Ottowa County Undersheriff Eric J. DeBoar declined to answer any questions regarding the double shooting.

On the 911 call – lasting some three minutes with the heavy audio redactions – the man gave explicit instructions to law enforcement: “The front door to the house is open, unlocked,” he said, adding that there was a note “on the kitchen table with some information.”

“Uh, that’s all,” he concluded. “Thank you very much.”

“Okay, wait, so what happened?” the dispatcher asked. “What did you — what did you do?” Any answer he provided was redacted from the released call.

Then the dispatcher heard a single gunshot, according to her log. William’s labored breathing is audible in the recording, and the dispatcher notes she received “no response” from him after.

By 9:09 a.m. first-responders had arrived at the home, which had no car in the driveway. They secured a perimeter around the house and noted “no movement inside,” the home.

By 6:15 that night, the case was cleared.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.