81-Year-Old Man Admits Strangling “Crazy” Wife

An 81-year-old man from Tennessee is currently in custody after confessing to the murder of his wife, as reported by local law enforcement. Joseph Scrofne is facing a first-degree murder charge following the death of his 80-year-old wife, Linda Scrofne, as per the records of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation into Linda’s death progressed rapidly, according to the authorities.

The day after Linda’s body was discovered, Joseph made contact with the police, although he did not immediately confess to the crime. The initial investigation was triggered by a call to the police regarding a death on Meadows Road in Portland, a city approximately 40 miles northeast of Nashville.

Upon arrival, officers noted suspicious circumstances surrounding Linda’s death, including bruising on her neck and blood on her face, as per the arrest documents. The following day, another call was made to the 911 dispatch center. This time, it was reported that Joseph was expressing suicidal thoughts. He was found driving towards his late wife’s home and was initially detained for his own safety.

During his detention, when asked by a deputy if he had harmed his wife, Joseph allegedly confessed to the crime. He reportedly stated his intention to murder his wife and admitted to strangling her. According to the arrest report, he justified his actions by claiming his wife was “crazy” and had a habit of getting up and falling down in the middle of the night.

The report further stated that Joseph expressed a lack of remorse for his actions, even suggesting that he had done his family a favor. He is currently being held in the Sumner County Jail without bond. The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office has yet to provide additional details on the case.