Complaint Upgraded To First Degree Murder For Tulsa Woman Arrested In Husband's Death

Craig Day, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The wife of a man who fell more than a dozen stories to his death from a Tulsa apartment building posted bond and was released from jail Wednesday.

Joshua Hilberling was killed in that fall from the University Tower at 17th and South Carson Tuesday afternoon that investigators say was the result of an argument with his wife.

Amber Hilberling, 19, was being held on a first degree murder complaint at the Tulsa County jail.

6/7/2011 Related Story: Wife Arrested After Tulsa Man Falls To His Death From 25th Floor Apartment

We're also learning more about the couple's past.

Investigators say 23-year-old Joshua Hilberling fell from the 25th floor of the apartment building, landing on top of the parking garage.

"Obviously this was a quick, sudden move and a tragic event," said Tulsa Police detective Dave Walker.

According to the arrest report, Amber told officers the two had got into an argument and she pushed him with her hands, causing him to fall through the window.

"It would have taken some sort of force or something to propel a body through a window, It really doesn't seem that you could be able to trip and fall into the window and that would cause that much damage," said Dave Walker.

While police continue their investigation, friends of Joshua Hilberling are saddened by his death.

"He's got a wonderful family and I just feel so bad for them," said Chelsea Sinclair, friend.Sinclair has known Hilberling for about five years. "He was a great, really nice guy. Never heard a bad thing about them, just cared about everybody around him," said Chelsea Sinclair.

Sinclair says Hilberling was excited about returning home to Tulsa and was looking forward to the birth of a new baby.

"Split second decisions can change a life immediately and everybody and all his friends are pulling for his family and praying," Chelsea Sinclair said.

According to Tulsa County court documents, Joshua Hilberling filed an emergency protective order against his wife in May, saying she had hit him in the head with a lamp which required staples and stitches and that she had been violent toward him several other times.

But that protective order was dismissed two weeks later when the couple didn't show up to court.

Tulsa Police detectives are looking into those past allegations of domestic violence, including several in other states where the couple lived when the victim was stationed in the U.S. Air Force.