BALLSTON SPA — On Wednesday, July 29, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen announced that Acting Saratoga County Court Judge Matthew J. Sypniewski sentenced Charles L. Wilkinson, 69, of Malta, to 15 years in State Prison followed by 5 years post release supervision after he pled guilty to felony manslaughter in the first degree – a Class B violent felony.
Two months ago Wilkinson admitted in court that he had intentionally caused the death of his wife, Kathleen, while under the influence of an “extreme emotional disturbance.” The killing took place sometime prior to June 1, 2014 at the couple’s home in the Town of Malta.
The police investigation revealed that Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson had a troubled relationship for many years prior to the incident and doctor evaluations also revealed that the defendant suffered from a mental disorder.
DA Heggen said: “This is a very tragic case. A family is destroyed – a wife lost to a violent death at the hands of her husband and their two children left without their parents. It is highly likely, given his age, that the defendant will spend the remainder of his life behind bars for this heinous crime.”
