News

Actions

Husband charged in the death of his wife pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter

Posted at 5:38 PM, Jul 04, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-04 22:38:10-04

Samuel Mansfield. (Pasquotank County)

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Samuel Mansfield, arrested in December after being accused of the death of his wife, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Wednesday.

The case has been continued for 8 months until the District Attorney schedules it again. No exact date for sentencing has been set yet.

Police arrived to a home in the 100 block of Golfclub Drive the morning of December 14 to find Samuel Frank Mansfield walking down the driveway with his hands in the air after revealing to dispatchers he’d shot and killed his wife, Phyllis.

According to court documents Mansfield told police he was in the process of finding an assisted living home for his wife and one morning realized she would be ‘living like a caged animal’ and that he ‘knew what he had to do’.

The documents also said Mansfield grabbed a gun, called Phyllis into the garage and shot her. He then stayed with her until she took her last breath before calling 911.

Mansfield was previously charged with first-degree murder, but was released from jail on bond when a grand jury failed to indict him.

He is currently being treated for health issues.

RELATED: 

Man indicted for second degree murder of wife in Elizabeth City

N.C. District Attorney: Man arrested for wife’s death released, not indicted for murder

73-year-old Elizabeth City woman found dead in home; Husband arrested