Published: April 06, 2009 04:24 pm      

Hearing set for man accused of shooting wife

JEROME — A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday before District Judge Susan Mankamyer in Boswell for William A. McTonic, 73, who has been charged with criminal homicide in the shooting death late last week of his wife.

The body of Ruth Anne Henderson-McTonic, also 73, was found on the back porch of her School Avenue residence by relatives at about 9:30 a.m. Friday. She had been shot twice in the upper chest with a .22-caliber firearm, Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, police said.

An affidavit of probable cause signed by Sgt. Vincent Zangaglia and Officer Michael Popma of the township police said neighbors of Henderson-McTonic heard what they believed to be three gun shots around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

The residents disregarded the sounds, believing they came from a nearby target shooting club, police said.

William McTonic, who resides in the 100 block of Railroad Avenue, was apprehended shortly after noon Friday in Somerset after being stopped in a vehicle by Somerset Borough Police.

In plain view on the back seat was a gun case and a revolver along with other firearms, including a .22-caliber gun. Police then executed a search warrant of his Railroad Avenue residence and found a .22-caliber revolver, several rounds of .22-caliber ammunition and three empty .22-caliber shells.

After being arraigned later that day by on-call District Judge Sandra Stevanus of Confluence, he was placed in Somerset County Jail without bond, where he remained Monday.

The couple had only been married for a few weeks, police said.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, William McTonic was upset because his wife was not happy with their relationship and was planning on leaving him.