Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Deann Kimble received 36 months of probation and will have to perform 50 hours of community service for her role in the suicide of her husband, Russell Kimble in March of this year.
Citing a lack of criminal history and apparent remorse on the part of the defendant, Judge Derek Weimer gave Kimble credit for time served.
Kimble, age 53, appeared for sentencing in Cheyenne County District Court on Thursday on an amended charge of assisting suicide, a class four felony. She had originally been arraigned April 8 on one count of assisting suicide and one count of concealing human skeletal remains.
She entered a plea of no contest to the first charge. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the felony charge of concealment.
The charges stemmed from an incident near the Sioux Army Depot on March 22. Sidney police determined that Russell Kimble shot himself inside the storage igloo in which the couple lived. Deann Kimble waited outside in her van.
Police received a tip from a local resident. Law enforcement officers discovered Russell Kimble’s body near the storage unit. During the subsequent investigation, Deann Kimble reportedly told police that, after determining he was dead, she had tied a cargo strap to her husband’s body and towed it to a location nearby with her vehicle, covering the body with dirt, wood and rocks.
According to the arrest affidavit, Deann and Russell Kimble had made a verbal pre-nuptual agreement forbidding her interference if he decided to commit suicide. Deann Kimble also agreed not to report his death or hold any service.
Russell Kimble allegedly believed he was suffering from emphysema and failing kidneys.
Throughout court appearances related to the case, the defense stressed Kimble’s clean criminal record and the unique nature of the incident.
Before sentencing, the court received letters of support from members of Kimble’s family. Inmates at the correctional facility in which she was held in custody reportedly also sent letters attesting to her character.
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