Courtesy photo/Jail mug. Audio/Courtesy of Sheriff's Office/Produced by NSBNEWS.net/Sera Frederick.
Theodore R. Malewski, 64, was arrested this morning by Volusia County Sheriff's investigators on charges of shooting his wife, Patricia, 71, in the abdomen Thursday night. She called 9-1-1 pleading for help and claiming her husband shot her on purpose. He could be heard in the background yelling it was accidental. Listen to the 9-1-1 audiotape.
EDGEWATER -- Theodore Malewski was arrested Friday morning by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office for shooting his wife in the abdomen the previous evening, an agency spokesman said.
Malewski, 64, is charged with aggravated battery (domestic violence), aggravated assault, and using a firearm while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
"The investigation revealed that the husband and wife had been drinking alcohol with their dinner," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. "After dinner they got into an argument, and the husband retrieved a handgun and waved it around with the purpose of scaring his wife into being quiet. However, the gun went off three times, striking the wife once."
The victim, Patricia Malewski, 74, underwent surgery at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. She is now recovering in intensive care, and is alert and talking, Haught said.
Patricia Malewski called 911 at approximately 9:37 p.m. from the couple's home at 195 Godfrey Road, just outside the Edgewater city limits in unincorporated Volusia County.
She reported to the 9-1-1 dispatcher that her husband had shot her, and Theodore Malewski could be heard in the background yelling that it was an accident.
The victim was airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach by the Sheriff's Air-1 helicopter where she underwent emergency surgery.
The husband was detained at the home by Sheriff;s investigators, prior to his arrest. A 9 mm handgun was recovered at the scene.
The spacious riverfront home is listed on the Volusia County Appraiser's Office at $2.2 million.