Man charged with staging his wife's truck accident

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- A man who said he bailed out of his pickup truck before a crash took his wife's life was charged with killing her and staging the accident, authorities said.

Jeffry Kimmel, 43, was charged Friday, nearly three months after the Aug. 7 accident that was thought to have killed Mary Kimmel, 31. He told police his wife fell asleep at the wheel, lost control of the pickup and crashed into the guard rail as he bailed out.

Now police allege that Kimmel poisoned his wife, propped her up behind the steering wheel and released the parking brake, jumping out before the truck hit the guardrail and rolled down a hill. Authorities said Kimmel walked home to call 911, passing several houses along the way.

Kimmel was charged with murder, tampering with evidence and endangering the welfare of a child, Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Jon Parrish. Police said Kimmel left his 2-year-old son at home while he committed the crime.

Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff Gary Stolzer said Kimmel was arrested late Friday near his home after an investigation by his department, Ste. Genevieve police and the state Highway Patrol.