Police in Cincinnati, Ohio have released a recording of a 911 call made April 25 following a fatal shooting in Colerain Township.
“I just shot and killed my wife,” the man, identified as Jeffrey Hawkins, 57, can be heard calmly telling the 911 dispatcher.
“You said you just shot and killed your wife?” the dispatcher replies.
“Yes,” Hawkins replied. “I’m on the sink, I’m not a threat to anybody. I’m a former police officer. I’m not sure what happened.”
According to police, the call came in around 10:50 a.m. When first responders arrived on the scene, they found the body of Jo Ann Hawkins, 59. She died as a result of “multiple gunshot wounds,” according to an affidavit filed with Hamilton County Municipal Court.
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In the 911 call, Hawkins says a dispute over money escalated into deadly violence.
“She took out all of the money out of our bank account on my birthday Saturday and you guys were out here a couple of times,” Hawkins said. “She was gone and I came home and she was here. She just wouldn’t talk to me…She kept saying talk to my lawyer. I don’t know.”
Hawkins then breaks down into tears as he continues his 911 call.
“It just happened. I never wanted to do anything. I’m just so hurt. I’m all right. I mean I’m not all right. God… God forgive me,” Hawkins said.
Police say they found Hawkins on the front porch of the home when they arrived, and he was taken into custody without incident.
At an arraignment Tuesday morning, Hawkins pleaded not guilty, and a judge ordered him held on $3-million bail.
Municipal Court Judge Brad Greenberg said bail was high because Hawkins had previously been charged with battery.
Cincinnati police spokesman Jim Love told NBC News that police “had been called out to their house before” but would not go into details.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse afterwards, Jo An Hawkins’ son, Bo Hart, said the family suspected there were issues of violence and marital abuse in the relationship.
“We’ve been scared, we know what’s he’s capable of,” Hart said.