Tamarac Man Charged In Pregnant Wife's Death
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A Tamarac man who claims he accidentally shot his wife in the head while she was in bed faced a judge Wednesday, charged with premeditated murder.
Prosecutor Eric Linder said in court, "as he sat up, the gun that was lying under the pillow, that he claims he keeps there because of drug activity around the home, the gun accidentally fired injuring his wife who is lying next to him."
Just after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jason Browdy called 9-1-1 and said he shot his wife, 33-year-old Monique Browdy, in the bedroom of their townhome in the Tuscany Neighborhood at University Drive and Commercial Boulevard. Browdy was four months pregnant her sisters told the Sun-Sentinel. The Broward Sheriff's Office has not confirmed that.
Monique Browdy, who had been shot in the face, was taken to Broward Health Medical Center where she was pronounced dead just after 1 p.m.
Browdy reportedly gave Broward sheriff's deputies another version of how he shot his wife. At first he told investigators that the gun had been under his pillow, it went off and it hit her. He then allegedly changed it to he was reaching for the gun and it went off by accident.
"And then claims that he grabbed the gun under the pillow when he woke up and as he was stand up the gun went off," said Linder.
Browdy's attorney Lonworth Butler addressed the inconsistencies in court.
"You had an individual who was in an agitated state because of the incident that had occurred and it's not unusual for statements to be 100% consistent," said Butler.
The Medical Examiner's Office said neither scenario fit the injuries, that it appears someone stood over her and fired from three feet away.
There was also a discrepancy when it came to time. According to BSO, Browdy claimed it happened at about 6 a.m. but he admitted waiting 40 minutes before calling 911.
A neighbor told investigators she heard a pop sound earlier than that.
"This neighbor stated that sometime shortly after 3 a.m., she heard a single pop sound that sounded like a gun," said Linder.
Prosecutors point out, if that's true, Browdy would have waited more than three hours to call for help as his bride lay dying in their bed.
The couple, according to the Monique's Facebook page, was married a few months ago. The page has many photos of what appears to be a happy couple.
"My son is a good man and it's unfortunate," said Browdy's father John Browdy.
Browdy's father said the family is grieving and responded to reports that his daughter-in-law was pregnant when she was killed.
CBS4's Ted Scouten asked, "They were newly weds and you were going to have a grandchild. How does this impact your family?"
"It impacts everyone," said John.
Jason Browdy, 35, has been arrested before; in 2008 on a domestic violence charge as well as traffic issues.
He's currently being held without bond.
