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St. Pete man accused of killing estranged wife

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Myron Stenhouse, 45, shot his estranged wife to death at his house, 6236 20th Way S., St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

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By PETER BERNARD | WFLA

Published: June 19, 2009

Updated: 06/19/2009 09:25 pm

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• Investigation ongoing

Myron Stenhouse

ST. PETERSBURG - Myron Stenhouse called 911 this afternoon and told police something had happened to his wife.

Police say that something was that Stenhouse had shot her to death.

He has since been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

During the 911 call, the 45-year-old Stenhouse mentioned a knife, put down the phone and left an open line, police say. A male voice could be heard in the background. Then Stenhouse got back on the line "and said something about his wife 'laying on the floor,'" a St. Petersburg Police Department news release states.

"He said he wanted the police to come out,'' said police spokesman Bill Proffitt. "He didn't say why. And then the line went open for a while. Then he came back to the line and made some kind of bizarre statement. And then the line went open again."

Stenhouse, 45, shot his estranged wife, Hunter Stenhouse, to death at his house, 6236 20th Way S., Proffitt said.

Proffitt said when police arrived following the 1:25 p.m. call, Stenhouse was waiting for them in his driveway, holding his 14-month-old daughter.

Hunter Stenhouse, 35, of Brandon, was dead inside the home. She had suffered a gunshot wound to her upper body, police say.

Officers recovered a semi-automatic gun from the house.

Hunter Stenhouse had moved out of the house about six months ago, and she and her husband were getting a divorce and sharing custody of their daughter. The girl was not hurt and is in the custody of family friends.

The Department of Children & Families will take custody of the girl.

"He just used to come over here and say that she was trying to leave him. And he just wanted his baby. That was his first baby," said Tamika Ford, who lives a few houses away from Myron Stenhouse.

Another neighbor said the crime is a surprise because Mr. Stenhouse always treated her with kindness. "He was a good man. Like when it was my birthday, he'd say happy birthday. Her, too. He was just nice man," said Syniah Snell.

Police are continuing to investigate and are unsure what the motive was for the shooting.

Reporters Josh Poltilove and Melissa Szumlic contributed to this report.

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