Woman shot in hospital dies; husband charged

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Carson City, Nev. • An 86-year-old Nevada woman shot by her husband while hospitalized died Wednesday and her spouse of more than six decades was charged with murder, authorities said.

Frances Dresser of Douglas County died from injuries suffered when she was shot once in the chest Sunday while at Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said.

Her husband told officers he planned to "end his wife's suffering" by killing her and then himself, but his gun jammed, police said.

District Attorney Neil Rombardo said William Dresser, 88, was charged Wednesday with "open murder" with use of a deadly weapon. Rombardo said open murder gives him discretion to amend the charges as more facts emerge. Nevada law does not recognize or make a distinction for so-called mercy killings, he said.

The Associated Press