AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- An Ohio man charged with murder for shooting his wife in a hospital intensive care unit was "deeply in love" with the victim, his attorney said Wednesday.
John Wise of Massillon is being held without bail, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported. He appeared at a hearing Wednesday to answer a charge of attempted murder via videolink and did not enter a plea.
Wise, apparently confused by the charge, asked if his wife was dead and was told his attorney would answer his questions. The charge was upgraded to aggravated murder Wednesday.
Barbara Wise died Sunday, a day after she was shot in the head in the intensive care unit at Akron General Medical Center.
Attorney Paul Adamson said after the hearing he believes investigators will discover Wise's motive for the shooting was love for his wife.
"I'm thoroughly convinced he's a good man. I think his past history bears that out," Adamson said. "Forty-five years of marriage, blessed to be deeply in love with his wife throughout those 45 years, and I am absolutely confident that everything that he's ever done for his wife has been done out of deep love, including the events that just recently transpired."
