Woman, 76, arrested for bludgeoning elderly husband to death with cane

A 76-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly bludgeoning her husband of nearly 40 years to death with a cane in their Maryland home, authorities said.

Gail D’Anthony was slapped with murder charges last week over the brutal March 1 death of her 72-year-old husband, John D’Anthony III, according to Carroll County prosecutors.

Cops had initially been called to the couple’s home just after 7.30 p.m. that night following reports the husband had gone into cardiac arrest.

He was pronounced dead at the scene but a subsequent autopsy revealed the elderly man had suffered extensive injuries that were “inconsistent” with a natural death, prosecutors said.

The husband had sustained blunt force injuries throughout his body, lacerations to his mouth, a broken neck, a broken rib, two black eyes and large contusions to his hands and forearms.

Authorities subsequently started probing the death as a homicide last month before a witness came forward alleging D’Anthony had later confessed to the slaying.

The wife allegedly said she had shoved John to the ground, causing him to strike his head.

“She then left the room and returned with a cane, which she used to bludgeon John on the head, and then used the cane to prevent him from getting up,” the prosecutors said.

“D’Anthony entered and exited the room several times, eventually finding her husband unresponsive. She then called 911 for assistance.”

Authorities haven’t yet disclosed a motive for the alleged attack.

In John’s obituary, D’Anthony was described as the victim’s “love of his life.”

“Jack was a beloved and devoted husband of over 39 years to the love of his life and best friend, Gail D’Anthony, of whom he tried to make laugh each and every day they were together,” the obituary said.

D’Anthony has been charged with first and second degree murder.

She is being held without bail after waiving a hearing last week.

“All of us in law enforcement in Carroll are committed to protecting vulnerable victims of domestic violence, no matter how young or old,” Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker said in a statement following her arrest.