Judge Mark W. Wall found enough evidence to send the case to a Butler County grand jury for consideration.
Wyatt, 41, is charged with murder, felonious assault, child endangerment and obstruction of official business for the Feb. 22 slaying at the Wyatt residence at 813 S. First St. His bond of more than $1 million was continued.
Wyatt told detectives he and Rhonda were arguing and he pulled the gun from under the mattress then held it under his chin, Trenton police Detective Jeremiah Morgan said during testimony. When he reached to hug Rhonda, he said the gun went off.
“He said he stood up to hug Rhonda, she spun away and he observed her hair fly up and she dropped,” Morgan said.
Two Trenton police officers testified what occurred in the house and results of the autopsy on Rhonda. Wyatt talked with his attorney Lawrence Hawkins III, but closed and wiped his eyes during much of the testimony. A family member, believed to be the victim’s mother wept at times.
The victim’s family requested not to be photographed in court and quickly left without comment. Middletown detectives sat in front blocking camera shots.
When Officer Bruce Agee arrived at the Wyatt residence, he said a blonde girl told him her mother was hurt. He found Wyatt in the bedroom kneeling at the head of his wife’s body.
“I asked him where the gun was, he said he didn’t know,” Agee said. When other officers arrived, the left the room to get a camera after spotting the gun under the bed.
“I started to focus the camera and I heard them (other officers) say drop the gun,” Agee said.
Officer Michael Gillen fired his Taser at Wyatt, but it was ineffective, the officer said. The officer then left the room.
Agee said Wyatt indicated he wanted to talk to him.
“I told him I would talk to him, but the gun was making me nervous,” Agee said. When he went back into the room, Wyatt was holding the gun by the cylinder.
Eventually, Agee was able to get the gun from Wyatt when he set it on the bed as he talked on the phone to Rhonda’s mother. He also pulled a knife from a cabinet and held it to his own neck, Agee said. When he set the knife down, Agee said he grabbed it.
“He (Wyatt) asked if he could give her a hug. He kneeled down to give her a hug, that’s when I cuffed him,” Agee said.
Hawkins asked Agee if he felt threatened by Wyatt, The officer said “no.”
Morgan testified that Rhonda’s daughter said Wyatt had questioned her before the shooting, asking her if her mother was cheating on him. Her answer was no.
The 15-year-old girl had walked to an elementary school to get her younger sister when the shooting occurred. The couple's 3-year-old son was home, according to Morgan.
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