Husband arrested in wife’s death
Police arrested a 45-year-old Ewa Beach man on murder charges after an autopsy revealed that his wife was strangled and had not died from hitting her head in a fall.
The death of 49-year-old Victoria M. Schuette on Sept. 10 was classified at first as an unattended death.
Police said initial reports were that the couple argued at around 8:30 p.m. in the backyard of the home and the husband allegedly pushed his wife and she hit her head.
An autopsy by the city Medical Examiner's Office showed Schuette had head injuries, but died from strangulation.
Police arrested Michael Schuette on Friday afternoon on suspicion of second-degree murder. Prosecutors have until today to charge him.
Neighbors said Michael Schuette was retired from the Navy and loved to do yard work.
Neighbor Kelly Miller said the Michael Schuette told him that the argument started because his wife didn't want potted plants in the backyard and then started throwing them on the ground and breaking them.
Miller said the Schuettes were going through a breakup and Michael Schuette suspected his wife was cheating on him.
Miller said he believes the death wasn't premeditated, and that Michael is grieving over the loss of his wife. Neighbors saw him sobbing when his wife was being taken away in a stretcher.
Next-door neighbor Vesna Castro spoke to Michael the day after to make sure there wasn't a criminal loose in the neighborhood.
"I was really scared, that's why I talked to him about it," Castro said. "He was crying when he told me about it. He said it shouldn't have happened like that. Even if it's an accident or not, he'll be suffering all his life either way."
Victoria Schuette was born in the Philippines and was an accountant for the Army at Wheeler Army Airfield. She has two children -- a son and daughter.