An Indiana man allegedly bludgeoned his wife to death with a hammer and set her on fire after she initiated divorce proceedings, authorities say.
Daniel Keith Flaherty, 42, of Patoka, Indiana, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of his wife, 36-year-old Kayla Flaherty, according to the Gibson County Sheriff's Office.
Flaherty reported his wife missing after he claimed she vanished on her way to her mother's house in Vincennes, Indiana Thursday, prompting an investigation into her whereabouts.
During an interview the following day, Flaherty allegedly confessed to beating Kayla on the head with a hammer several times, dragging her body into their SUV, setting it on fire, and rigging it to drive into the Wabash River, according to the arrest affidavit, WEHT-TV reported.
Her body and the SUV were pulled from the river Friday.
Investigators learned Kayla had recently filed for divorce, but Flaherty had not yet been served the divorce papers before he allegedly killed her, according to the outlet.
Flaherty alleged the couple were discussing their relationship before Kayla died.
He pleaded not guilty to murder Monday and requested a public defender, the Courier & Press reported.
