Bismarck man charged with murdering wife

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Authorities say a Bismarck man beat his wife to death in front of the woman's 3-year-old son.

Derek Bollinger was charged Friday with murder and abuse and neglect of a child. His wife, Jessica Bollinger, was found at the couple's Bismarck home.

The 30-year-old Bollinger was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at about 1 a.m. Friday.

Burleigh County prosecutor Cynthia Feland says Jessica Bollinger died from being beaten about the head and shoulders. Feland says authorities took a pair of crutches and a stool from the Bollingers' home as possible weapons.

Bismarck Police Lt. Bob Haas says Derek Bollinger made a 911 call from his home just after midnight to report an assault. Haas didn't give details of the call.

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