SUNDANCE, WY – Charges have been filed against Edward Svoboda in relation to the death of his wife. Kathleen Svoboda was allegedly hit and run over by a pickup and trailer in the back yard of the couple’s residence near Alva.
According to a news report in The Sundance Times, Svoboda has been charged with murder in the first degree. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment at minimum, and could be given the death penalty, a $10,000 fine or both.
He has also been charged with murder in the second degree, which carries a minimum penalty of 20 years’ incarceration, a $10,000 fine or both.
The difference between murder in the first and second degree is premeditation. To be convicted of murder in the first degree, Svoboda must be found guilty of purposely killing his wife with “premeditated malice.”
Svoboda also faces a third felony charge of aggravated homicide by vehicle, carrying maximum penalty of 20 years incarceration, a $10,000 fine or both.
Svoboda was arrested on September 5 after allegedly causing the death of his wife of 53 years. Three deputies from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports that Svoboda had driven his truck into the back yard and struck his wife. She was pronounced deceased when the Hulettt, WY, ambulance arrived on scene.
According to the incident report, deputies learned that Svoboda had driven to a neighbor’s house and asked for a ride, saying his wife had kicked him out of the house. Svoboda allegedly then got into another vehicle and drove back to his residence.
Shortly after, Kathleen Svoboda allegedly sent multiple text messages to a family member asking for help and saying her leg was broken. The family member went to the residence and found her in the back yard. At that time she was still alive and talking.
While investigating the scene, deputies determined that the victim had been hit and driven over by a pickup hauling a tandem axle trailer with a skid steer on the trailer. Tire tracks allegedly showed where the pickup had been driven into the yard and turned left, and the position of the victim’s body was consistent with her being run over by the trailer tires.
Bond has been set in the case at $3 million dollars, cash only.
