73-Year-Old Lake Wales Man Accused Of Killing Wife Of 50 Years

LAKE WALES, FL — A 73-year-old Lake Wales man, who served in the U.S. Marines during his 20s and had no apparent criminal history, was accused Tuesday with murdering his wife of 50 years.

Ronald Strouse was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday and was expected to make his first appearance before a judge at 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

"This was a particularly brutal murder," explained Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "We aren't sure why Ronald Strouse murdered his wife of 50 years, but one thing we are sure of is that he will be held accountable for his actions."

Strouse allegedly called police around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to report the death of his wife, 72-year-old Susan Strouse, whom he said planned to end their 50-year marriage though she wouldn't say why.

Sheriff's deputies found Strouse sitting on his porch of the couple's Harte Drive home when they arrived a short time later. The body of Susan Strouse was found nearby in the couple's living room.

"The defendant stated during the evening hours on Monday June 10, 2019, the victim informed him she wanted to leave him, take all their money, and move out of their residence," arrest documents explained. "The defendant further stated the victim would not tell him why she wanted to leave him, but that they only argued that night."

The frustration spilled into the following day and past lunch when Susan Strouse prepared sausage sandwiches for herself and her husband. Ronald Strouse told police he did not eat because he was not hungry.

"After lunch, the defendant stated the victim was lying on the couch watching TV, when he approached her and repeatedly asked her why she wanted to leave him," arrest documents said. "The defendant then stated the victim would not answer him and tell him why she wanted to leave him, which frustrated him."

That led to a physical altercation. "The defendant stated he grabbed the victim as she was lying on the couch and pulled her down to the floor, where they began to wrestle on the floor," arrest documents said. "The defendant further stated he then got on top of the victim and straddled her midsection as she was lying on her back."

Ronald Strouse allegedly told police he placed both of his hands around his wife's neck and began to choke her. Arrest documents said she struggled with her husband, even scratching his arms and digging her fingernails into him before her body went limp.

"Once the victim stopped struggling and became motionless, the defendant stopped choking her," arrest documents said. "The defendant stated he called 9-1-1 after a few minutes."

The sheriff's office said the woman suffered severe bruising on both arms, her neck, jaw, forehead and above her left eye.

Carrie Horstman of the sheriff's office told Patch that the couple moved into the neighborhood only about a month ago. She said Ronald Strouse had served in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968 during the Vietnam Conflict.

Horstman said a number of retired postal workers live in the area but she did not know whether Strouse or his wife had ties to the U.S. Postal Service.

Dr. Stephen Nelson conducted an autopsy on the body Wednesday in which he concluded that the woman died of manual strangulation and ruled the case a homicide.

"She also had lacerations to her hand and wrist and a broken fingernail, consistent with defensive wounds," the sheriff's office reported.