By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that Marylue Wigglesworth, 53, was sentenced to 6 years in prison on Tuesday following a guilty plea to one count of manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of her husband, David Wigglesworth, in their home on Christmas Day in 2022.
Officials stated that this sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires that she serve 85% of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
During the plea, officials say, the defendant stated that before the shooting, she and her husband engaged in an argument.
The victim, David, physically assaulted the defendant and threatened her with a firearm that he kept in their bedroom, officials said.
According to officials, immediately following the threat, the defendant shot the victim with the firearm used in the assault.
Officers investigating the homicide documented significant bruising throughout the defendant’s body following the homicide, consistent with being the victim of an assault, authorities say.