Choctaw Police say wife claims abuse in killing

CHOCTAW, Okla. (AP) _ A Choctaw woman accused of plotting to kill her husband told authorities she wanted him dead to end his abuse, a Choctaw police official said. <br/><br/>``She told us she asked her

Saturday, October 1st 2005, 1:12 pm

By: News On 6

CHOCTAW, Okla. (AP) _ A Choctaw woman accused of plotting to kill her husband told authorities she wanted him dead to end his abuse, a Choctaw police official said.

``She told us she asked her daughter's boyfriend about hiring a killer because she was tired of him abusing her and their children,'' Capt. Marsha Vanhoutte said. ``She said the abuse was sometimes physical, but mostly mental abuse.''

Catherine Vigil, 45, was being held without bail in the Oklahoma County jail Friday evening on a complaint of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Leroy Vigil, 43.

Catherine Vigil, 18-year-olds Antwyon D. Turner and Adam Blaine Peters, and a 17-year-old boy were arrested Thursday for what police said was a murder-for-hire scheme.

Leroy Vigil was shot three times in the head Wednesday after his skull was repeatedly bludgeoned with a baseball bat outside the Vigil home, Vanhoutte said.

The two 18-year-olds and 17-year-old are accused of killing Vigil, then taking $500 from his wallet to make it appear as if he had been robbed, Vanhoutte said.

The money was given to Catherine Vigil, who gave it back to Turner and told him to ``divvy it up between the boys,'' Vanhoutte said.

None of the suspects has a history of committing violent crimes, she said. Peters and the 17-year-old attend Del City High School, where Peters is a member of the football team, Vanhoutte said.

Turner is the boyfriend of the Vigils' teenage daughter, according to police. She is five months pregnant with his child, Vanhoutte said.

Police have the gun and baseball bat believed to have been used in Vigil's death. Vanhoutte said the .22-caliber pistol was a family heirloom that belonged to the victim's grandfather.

Vanhoutte said the Vigils were childhood sweethearts and were married for about 22 years. They have five children, she said.

Vigil told police she never reported the abuse to authorities because she didn't think they would do anything about it, Vanhoutte said.