Southington man calls 911, says he killed his wife - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

UPDATED 12:35 a.m. Wednesday

SOUTHINGTON, Ohio- A Southington man was behind bars Tuesday for allegedly killing his wife.

How he confessed to authorities is unusual for officers and now more details are emerging about the couple's relationship.

Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Trumbull County authorities said something that doesn't happen very often happened- a Southington man confessed to 911 dispatchers that he killed his wife.

"Yeah I just killed my wife," he said.  The dispatcher asked "you just killed your wife?"  He said "yes."  The dispatcher asked for the address and he said "4480 County Line Turnpike Road."  She then goes on to ask what happened and he hung up.

Officers said 61-year-old Royce Honaker shot his wife, Donna, twice.

Major Thomas Stewart of the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department said "this is definitely no accident."

"Our first deputy on scene was at the scene and the suspect come out of the house and made an utterance that he shot and killed his wife also," Stewart said.

Royce surrendered and was immediately taken into custody on a murder charge.

"He seemed pretty calm to be honest with you.  He didn't seem very nervous at all.  He was pretty calm."

Major Stewart says the couple was estranged.  Court documents show Royce filed for divorce from Donna in April, stating extreme cruelty.  Their house is currently for sale.

Now Royce will face a murder charge for Donna's death and he's expected to be arraigned Wednesday.

 

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SOUTHINGTON, Ohio - A coroner was called to the scene of a home of a man who called 911 and told officials that he killed his wife.

Police set up a crime scene at 4480 County Line Turnpike Road NW in Southington on Tuesday afternoon after the call was made at 1:00 p.m.

Authorities say the call was made by Royce Honaker, 61. 

Honaker stated that he killed his wife, then provided his address and hung up. 

He was taken into custody without incident by the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department and charged with the murder of his estranged wife whose name has not been released.

Honaker is expected to be arraigned in Newton Falls court on Wednesday.

Stay with 21 News and wfmj.com for more on this developing story.