THOMAS J. SHEERAN
Associated Press

AKRON, Ohio (AP) - A man accused of shooting his wife of 45 years at an Ohio hospital in what may have been amercy killing has been charged with aggravated murder.

John Wise appeared before a municipal court judge in Akron via video from jail Wednesday morning on the new count. No plea was entered. He must return to court Aug. 22.

The 66-year-old is accused of shooting his wife at her bedside Saturday. She died the next morning.

Prosecutors decided to upgrade an attempted murder charge after an autopsy showed she died from a gunshot wound to her head. A county medical examiner said Tuesday that Barbara Wise's death was a homicide.

Investigators are looking into whether Wise shot his wife in a mercy killing.

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