Lebanon, Indiana – A Lebanon man, Andrew Wilhoite, who was initially facing a murder charge in the death of his wife, Nikki, has now been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. A Boone County jury deliberated for about nine hours before reaching a verdict on Thursday.
Wilhoite was charged with murder following the March 2022 death of his wife, Nikki Wilhoite. After Nikki was reported missing by her coworkers on March 25, 2022, her body was discovered in a creek near their home the following day.
During the trial, Wilhoite admitted to striking his wife with a flower pot during an argument and later disposing of her body in the creek. Autopsy photos presented in court showed that Nikki suffered three to five blunt-force injuries to her head. Forensic pathologists testified that she was alive for up to 10 minutes after the first blow.
Nikki had recently completed her final chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer before her tragic death. Despite the initial murder charge, the jury ultimately decided to convict Wilhoite of voluntary manslaughter, considering the possibility that the crime was a result of “sudden heat.”
Wilhoite is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4 and could face a prison term of 10 to 30 years for the voluntary manslaughter conviction. The case has brought to light the complexities and tragedies involved in domestic disputes, impacting not just the individuals involved but the community at large.