St. Paul suspect: 'I killed my wife'

Gerald Wassenaar of St. Paul, 67, was charged Thursday in the murder of his wife, Jean, also 67. He's being held at Regions Hospital.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: November 5, 2009 - 9:54 PM

A 67-year-old St. Paul man was charged Thursday in the murder of his wife Monday night in the couple's home.

"I did it," the criminal complaint against Gerald B. Wassenaar quoted him as telling police. "I killed her."

Wassenaar, who is being held in a secure unit of Regions Hospital in St. Paul, was charged with unintentional second-degree murder in the death of Jean A. Wassenaar, 67, in the couple's St. Paul home.

Jean Wassenaar suffered "multiple traumatic injuries to [her] scalp and her internal neck region, where extensive traumatic injuries were observed," a preliminary medical examiner's report said.

Police found her body in the home, according to the complaint. She was face down on the floor, her head on a pillow. Blood was coming from her mouth, and her arms were bruised.

"This is a tragic case, and a reminder that domestic violence continues to be a serious problem in our community,'' County Attorney Susan Gaertner said.

Jean Wassenaar, a licensed attorney, worked at Thomson Reuters in Eagan. Her volunteerism focused on helping the disenfranchised and included work for Minneapolis Legal Aid, as an organizer and board member with a tenants union, and as a board member of the Powderhorn Residents Group and the Southside Family Nurturing Center.

According to the criminal complaint:

Gerald Wassenaar was found near 10th Street and Manning Avenue in Lake Elmo on Monday night sitting in his stalled car and in a confused state of mind. A Washington County sheriff's deputy drove Wassenaar to his home in the 1000 block of Barclay Street, but he declined to enter the home. He said he didn't want to disturb his wife while she was sleeping.

Later that night, police were called to Wassenaar's home by a neighbor who said Wassenaar was locked out of his house. Officers discovered Jean Wassenaar's body inside. Police also saw a plant tipped over and several phone cords.

Gerald Wassenaar was taken to Regions by paramedics and placed on a mental health hold. While en route, he yelled numerous times, "I killed my wife! I killed my wife! I will not live and I will kill my life. I killed my wife!"

At Regions, he was asked whether he felt like hurting himself. He responded: "C'mon, I killed my wife. What do you think?"

Police also were told that Gerald Wassenaar attacked a hospital employee and ripped a telephone from the wall.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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