Webster, Mass., man charged with killing wife shortly after IRS agents seized car for taxes

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 23, 2011

DUDLEY, Mass. — A Webster man charged with killing his wife about an hour after two IRS agents seized their car for nonpayment of taxes has been ordered held without bail.

William Freudenthal (FROY’-den-thal) pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder Wednesday in Dudley District Court.

Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. says police responded to the 50-year-old Freudenthal’s home Tuesday when he became angry at the IRS agents.

Police returned less than an hour later after getting two 911 hang-up calls from the home. Officers found Jennifer Freudenthal on the bathroom floor with head and neck injuries. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

William Freudenthal’s lawyer called the death an accident.

Police say they have gone to the home several times for alleged domestic violence incidents.