80-Year-Old Man Accused of Killing Wife With Hammer at 'Leisure World' Retirement Community

An 80-year-old Maryland man was arrested and charged with murdering his wife with a hammer at their retirement community.

Beverly Fletcher, 78, was found dead with stab wounds and possible blunt force trauma inside her apartment at Leisure World, a retirement community in Maryland, the Montgomery County Police Department said in a news release.

Her husband, Vivian Stewart Nation, was also located in the apartment and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder.

According to charging documents reported by WTOP, WUSA and DC News Now, police said they found a bloody hammer and screwdriver at the scene.

The reported documents alleged that Nation spoke to investigators and said that he and his wife had gotten in a fight over his doctor — which turned physical.

The documents further allege that Fletcher fell on the ground and that Nation said he pushed the hammer against her throat.

Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said, according to WUSA, that the couple had been married for 13 years.

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“I’m sure it’s a tough situation for both of these families,” McCarthy said. “We’re dealing with a gentleman who’s been dealing with some cognitive challenges in recent years and this happens.” 

It was not immediately clear if Nation has entered a plea. He is being represented by a public defender and undertook a cognitive evaluation this week.

“This case is an obvious tragedy for all involved,” public defender Sean Mukherjee said according to WUSA. “Mr. Nation has lived 80 years without any record of serious or violent crimes; something more is clearly going on here.”