Officers: Delta man dies during domestic dispute

A Delta man was killed Saturday during what police said likely was a domestic-violence incident in Cape Girardeau County.

Sheriff’s deputies were summoned to a residence in the 600 block of County Road 256 about 6 p.m. Saturday but were unable to find anyone at the scene, according to a post on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.

Deputies later learned the 45-year-old Delta man, whose identity has not been released, had abducted his wife and child in a vehicle.

Sheriff’s Capt. David James said deputies still are investigating what happened, but they believe the man threatened to kill his wife and child and then himself before returning to the residence.

At that point, according to the statement, the wife escaped, got into another vehicle and ran over the man “before he could shoot her.”

James said Coroner John Clifton would not release the man’s name, pending an autopsy.

Brad Dillow, battalion chief at the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, said firefighters had to set up some distance away from the scene until the sheriff’s department could determine it was safe.

Once the scene was cleared, firefighters were able to approach and extricate the man from under the car, Dillow said.

The woman was treated at a hospital. James said police still are conducting interviews to find more information about the case.

Clifton was not available for comment.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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