Barton Seltmann: Pennsylvania man accused of fatally beating wife as clash over cat vet care ends in tragedy

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: Barton Seltmann, an 84-year-old man was arrested on November 28, after police found his wife, Margaret Seltmann, 85, dead in the couple’s home in Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County

District Attorney Kevin R Steele and Lower Pottsgrove Township Police Chief Richard Bell said in a joint statement that the couple were arguing “about money for veterinary care of their cat when the fight turned physical."

The statement also revealed, “Evidence found on scene indicated that the victim was struck multiple times in the head while lying on the kitchen floor.”

Seltmann called 911 himself to report an "unresponsive female," according to authorities.

When cops arrived at the scene, they discovered Seltmann on the back porch with "blood on his hands, face, and clothing.”

What did Barton Seltmann say to the police?

According to NBC Philadelphia, Barton Seltmann initially told 911 operators that he thought his wife was dead and that someone "beat her."

Despite his initial claims that his kitchen had been ransacked, and his wife had been bleeding from the head, police saw his statements as him pretending not to know what happened to her.

Later, he admitted that he beat his wife to death when she grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him, per the broadcaster.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Seltmann claimed he seized a chair and shoved its legs into his wife.

As reported by NBC Philadelphia, he informed detectives that his wife then fell back and hit her head on the floor.

Seltmann claimed he didn't see a knife in his wife's hand but nonetheless struck her repeatedly and then whacked her in the head with a candle holder.

Seltmann claims his wife told him, "You're killing me," and at some point, she “went to sleep.”

What did authorities say about the homicide?

Under Margaret Seltmann's body, investigators found a tiny kitchen knife along with shards of glass from a broken candle jar.

According to the District Attorney's Office, a forensic pathologist with the Montgomery County Coroner's Office determined that the woman died from blunt force trauma to the head, and her death was deemed a homicide.

Online court documents revealed that Seltmann was arraigned on first-degree and third-degree murder charges.

Seltmann is currently held without bond at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and he has a preliminary hearing on December 5.

There was no attorney listed in court records who could comment on his behalf.

A Fox News reporter put out a series of tweets about the crime providing copies of the court documents.