Popular St. Louis radio personality shot to death in home

ST. LOUIS -- The husband of popular St. Louis radio personality Nan Wyatt was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in her shooting death, police said.

Thomas Erbland, 43, was being held without bond in the St. Louis County jail. He also was charged with armed criminal action.

Wyatt, 44, was found dead Tuesday evening in her home in the St. Louis suburb of Twin Oaks. Police said she and her husband had marital problems, though they and the county courts had no records that she had filed for divorce. Police had never been called to the home prior to the shooting.

"The relationship was deteriorating," St. Louis County Police Lt. Jon Belmar said. "We discovered there had been some amount of marital discord between the two of them."

The couple's 7-year-old son, Drake, was home at the time of the shooting but was not injured. After the shooting, Erbland dropped the child off at the home of Wyatt's parents, then called them to say something had happened.

"After that, he indicated there had been a crime committed at his house against his wife," Belmar said. Police went to the home after Wyatt's parents called them.

Erbland was picked up at an optical store as he tried to find a police station to turn himself in, Belmar said.

Wyatt had been shot several times with a .357-caliber Magnum.

Wyatt, known for in-depth political coverage, was co-host of the drive-time "Total Information A.M." on KMOX (1120 AM), a powerhouse station which can be heard throughout much of the nation at night, as people tune in to hear St. Louis Cardinals games.

Wyatt's program was the highest-rated morning show in St. Louis, fellow KMOX broadcaster Charlie Brennan said.

Gov. Bob Holden, who worked with Wyatt on a monthly show called "Ask the Governor," went to the KMOX studios Tuesday night as soon as he learned of Wyatt's death. Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent called the station, as did dozens of other politicians, civic leaders and regular listeners.

'Lovely person'

"She was a lovely person. She was kind, sweet, warm and I shall never forget her," Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder said.

Regular radio listeners said they felt they'd lost a friend, a genuine, thoughtful voice that was with them as they brushed their teeth in the morning or got their children ready for school. Some broke down on the air.

KMOX suspended regular programming Wednesday to pay tribute to Wyatt.

"A lot of people play to their audience, or their subject or they're out to get the big scoop," said a regular listener, saying that wasn't Wyatt's way. "She was a good, reasonable voice to have around, and she will surely be missed."

Wyatt, whose legal name was Nandray (Wallicki) Erbland, came to KMOX in 1990. She left to work at Chicago's WBBM-AM from 1994 to 1996, then returned to KMOX as host of the morning program.

KMOX general manager Tom Langmyer, the station's vice president and general manager who was called upon to identify Wyatt's body, called her a great broadcaster and dear friend to the station and St. Louis.

"Nan was a consummate professional," Langmyer said. "And we'll miss her very much."

Wyatt also was part of KETC's "Donnybrook," a televised panel discussion of news events.

Ray Hartmann, former owner of the Riverfront Times and a "Donnybrook" co-host, said his feelings were "an unbelievable mixture of grief and rage. Nan was just a wonderful, wonderful person."

Wyatt won several journalism awards.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay called Wyatt "one of the most gifted journalists I have ever known" -- a tough interviewer but "always well-prepared, fair and professional."

"She used interviews to enlighten her audiences, not to embarrass her guests," Slay said. "She was more than a terrific reporter. People loved her because she was warmhearted, personable and loved St. Louis. I, along with her legion of fans and listeners, will miss her greatly."

The past year has been difficult at KMOX. In June, St. Louis Cardinals announcer Jack Buck died at age 77. In November, the station's news director from 1974 to 1995, John Angelides, died of a heart attack at age 65. And in December, Joel Buchsbaum -- a New Yorker who hosted a regular Sunday night radio show on KMOX -- died at age 48.

Wyatt's funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in St. Louis, followed by private burial. Visitation will be Friday at Bopp Chapel, Kirkwood.

Infinity Broadcasting, KMOX's owner, set up a memorial fund through Jefferson Bank, 2301 Market St. in St. Louis, 63103, to benefit her son.

------

On the Net

http://www.kmox.com