Who is John Wonder? Missouri man kills wife amid divorce battle, doodles bone-chilling message on her dead body
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Authorities have reported a chilling incident where a Missouri man, who killed his wife during an ongoing divorce battle, doodled an appalling one-word message on her dead body using blood.
The cold-hearted killer then sent texts about the harrowing crime to their family, law enforcement noted.
According to an arrest warrant, John Wonder, 31, stands accused of one count each of murder in the first degree, and armed criminal action in connection to his wife's death.
The defendant reportedly strangled and stabbed his wife to death on September 22 at their family house on North Forest Avenue in Kansas City where the couple lived with their two children.
As per the police, John Wonder was arrested later that day in Valentine, Nebraska.
When were the authorities informed about the violence?
Officers initially arrived at the residence after the couple’s shared employer, who knew about their impending divorce, called to request a welfare check after the two hadn’t shown up for work.
The family members met police at the residence and provided entry.
According to The Kansas City Star, Ashli Ehrhardt Wonder, 29, was found in a gruesome state in the basement laundry room at around 10.30 am on the day in question.
Apparently, it was a family member who noticed the laundry room door ajar but held tight with a bungee cord.
Police found the victim lifeless with a belt wrapped around her neck
The authorities were left in utter disbelief when they entered the residence. Wonder's wife was found lifeless with a belt wrapped around her neck.
She was stripped down from the waist and was bleeding. Authorities said she suffered several apparent puncture wounds on her left side.
They also discovered the word "wonder" doodled on one of her legs.
Acccording to the probable cause statement obtained by the outlet, a large butcher knife and a meat clever were placed next to the woman’s body.
Ehrhardt Wonder’s parents told law enforcement that the couple’s children, identified as a two-year-old and a four-year-old, were left with them, on the porch, on the day of the crime.
Wonder’s sister showed police a series of text messages
A series of text messages were shown by the victim's sister shared between herself and her brother at around 10.42 am that day.
The message she sent read, “Where the f**k are you?” The alleged killer reportedly texted his sister back and said, "Hey kiddo. Sorry about the mess. For the record: it’s way easier and much more satisfying than you can imagine. See you around.”
Wonder's friend also shared additional messages they received on the morning of the crime
“Hey bud,” one message reads. “Sorry to make you the receiver of this, but I have to share with someone. I’m about to throw my phone out the windows and will continue North to Fargo. I’m not trying to get away. Just feel like driving, far, far away.”
Another message received by the friend reads, "Part of me wants to get drunk and watch Shawshank Redemption one last time; however, I think it is time for me to go. Goodbye house.”
A message sent at 7.39 am reads, "Still haven’t cried. Still feel nothing. No more anxiety, though. That’s a plus.”
A follow-up message reads, "Now depleted in anger, I placed her gemstones set next to her body. Her third-eye shakra, her moonstone, blah blah blah – a lot of good they did you, hun.”
A little more than an hour later, the friend told law enforcement they received the following message, "I’m in the car. I have no doubt I will be caught today. I keep thinking about how she never screamed. Just took it like a champ. What a gal. To honor her, I will not go out by a gunshot (suicide by cop), but hopefully a similar fate.”
Wonder allegedly sent his friend one last message at 10.33 am that day. It read, "Some small town in Northern Mo – I’m guessing they will be finding her body right about now. I started getting calls at 9:30 am."
When was John Wonder arrested?
Wonder was arrested roughly eight hours after his wife’s body was discovered. He is being held on $1 million cash bond and is still in Nebraska pending extradition.
There are currently no court dates slated for his case and he does not appear to be represented by counsel.