Portageville man charged in wife's shooting death

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A Portageville, Mo., man was to be arraigned Tuesday on murder charges in connection with the death of his wife.

Jon Patrick Ellington, 39, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of his wife, Carolyn Sue Ellington, 48. He is being held in the New Madrid County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

Carolyn Ellington died Saturday at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, Tenn., from a gunshot wound to the head. She had been taken to Memphis by helicopter early Saturday morning.

New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens described the shooting as the result of a domestic dispute. An autopsy was to be conducted Tuesday in Farmington, Mo., he said.

According to the probable-cause statement, a 911 call was received at the Portageville Police Department at 5:47 a.m. Saturday. "The caller stated that they had been arguing and the female was shot ... the caller was crying and also said it was an accident," according to the statement.

New Madrid County deputy Danny J. Ware took a statement from Troy Shelly, who was the first to arrive at the scene. Shelly told officers when he arrived Jon Ellington was lying over Carolyn Ellington. Shelly told officers he removed a .22-caliber revolver and a pump shotgun from the scene because Jon Ellington was threatening to commit suicide.

Later that morning, after being read his Miranda rights, according to the probable-cause statement, Jon Ellington told officers he had been out all night working on his truck and when he returned home about 4 a.m. Saturday, he and Carolyn Ellington began to argue.

"Jon P. Ellington stated that Carolyn was yelling at him and that she was in a rage. Jon P. Ellington stated that Carolyn slapped him and he slapped her," according to the statement. "Jon P. Ellington stated Carolyn went for the gun on the couch then he took it away from her and shot her."

Later in his statement Ellington stated the gun discharged as he took it away from Carolyn Ellington.

During the interview with officers, Ellington stated the gun was borrowed from a neighbor because of threats received from a family member.