Cary woman, 61, charged in husband's death after TV dispute

Dottie Delaney Amtey is charged charged with murder after she allegedly strangled her husband to death after an argument over the TV.

Posted 11:18 a.m. May 9, 2013 — Updated 10:11 p.m. May 9, 2013

CARY, N.C. — A Cary woman was arrested early Thursday morning and charged with murder after she allegedly strangled her husband to death after an argument over the TV.

Police responding to 101 Carbon Hill Court around 11 p.m. Wednesday found Sharad Ramchandrarao Amtey, 77, unresponsive. He was taken to Rex Hospital in Raleigh, where he was pronounced dead.

Dottie Delaney Amtey, 61, was taken into custody early Thursday and was given a $1 million secured bond at an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon.

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Howard Cummings said during the hearing that his office won't be prosecuting Amtey for first-degree murder, but he did not say exactly why.

"I talked with the officers at 5:30 a.m. when the charges were authorized and have talked with them again about it and know something about the history of the family, and it appears that, at most, it would be a second-degree case," he said.

According to Cary police reports, officers have been called to the home five times since 2010 about matters involving an adult son who lived there and not the couple. At least one of the reports, however, did have to do about an assault against Sharad Amtey.

It's unclear what led to his death Wednesday night, but several sources told WRAL News that Sharad Amtey had been in an argument prior to the strangling that revolved around the television. He wanted it off, the sources said, and pulled the cable from the wall, and family members got angry.

According to a 911 call released early Thursday, an unidentified woman reported he was unconscious and not breathing and that other family members in the home were "freaking out."

"(She) said she just choked her husband to death. He was very sick and old, and she said she just killed him," the caller said.

Neighbor Christine Harney said Thursday that she was shocked by the allegations and said the couple mostly kept to themselves.

"I feel sad, because the only time I saw her looking happy was when she was running," Harney said. "I think she had a hard life. I don't know why or what was going on, and I'm sad he passed away, but I just know her, and it just doesn't add up."

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