90-Year-Old Man Charged in Choking Death of Wife, 86

VENTURA — A 90-year-old Fillmore man was charged with murder when his wife of 60 years died Friday, two days after he called 911 to report that she was choking.

Authorities said they think Alfred Pohlmeier is the oldest defendant ever to appear before a Ventura County judge.

Pohlmeier is accused of choking his 86-year-old wife, Lidwina, into unconsciousness early Wednesday morning. She died in a Santa Paula hospital Friday.

Hospital workers were suspicious of Pohlmeier’s version of his wife’s injuries after noticing bruises on her neck. Pohlmeier then admitted that he wanted his wife to die before he did because she was ill, authorities said.

But prosecutors do not buy that story.

“This was a coldblooded murder, not a mercy killing,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn said. Glynn did not disclose a possible motive for the killing.