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Lewisville man kills wife after dog defecates inside the home
By Heather M. Goodwin, hgoodwin@starlocalnews.com
Michael Stephen Stolz, 76, is being charged with the murder of his wife, Bernice M. Stolz, 49, in Lewisville's first murder of 2012.
Lewisville Police arrested Stolz following a four-hour standoff Tuesday. Police responded to the Stolz residence in the 1600 block of Chisolm Trail after receiving a call from Bernice's employer at approximately 4:15 p.m. The employer was concerned because she had missed several days of work.
Upon arrival at the residence, officers contacted Stolz who refused to allow officers inside the home to check on Bernice.
Lewisville SWAT officers responded to the residence and attempted to make contact with Stolz. He would not communicate with police and refused to come out. Deaver said police shut down Chisolm Trail and several residents were asked to leave their homes for safety reasons.
After getting a search warrant, the SWAT team used a robot to gain entry into the home. They saw Stolz in the master bedroom of the residence. He was detained and a search was conducted for Bernice Stolz.
Bernice Stolz's dead body was located on the kitchen floor. She appeared to have multiple gunshot wounds.
"Michael Stolz admitted to killing his wife, and he didn't resist arrest when the officers gained entry into the home," Deaver said.
Police also located two dead dogs inside the residence that appeared to have been shot.
"Michael Stolz apparently became upset when one of the dogs defecated inside the home. Stolz said he shot the dog and when his wife became upset and screamed, he shot her as well," Deaver said.
Police believe Bernice Stolz died Saturday, and Stolz was holed up inside the home since then.
Bernice Stolz' body was transported to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The medical examiner ruled that the nature of death was homicide and the cause was from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Stolz is currently incarcerated in the Denton County Jail with a $250,000 bond. Deaver said this is still an ongoing investigation. Police are still collecting evidence for the case.
Deaver said Lewisville police have never responded to any other calls at the residence. Police did not know how long the couple had been married or if they had any children, but they were the only two living in the home.
This is the third domestic violence murder in Lewisville in as many years. In 2011, Tony Burrell was arrested for the murder of his estranged wife. He is currently awaiting trail in Denton County for capital murder. In 2010, Jose Fernando Corona famously allegedly decapitated and dismembered his wife's body. Maria Corona was found lying in the street by a mail carrier. Police believe Corona fled the country and is still on the run.
"It's a pattern that's been out there for sometime," Deaver said. "I don't know if, per capita, our numbers are any higher than other areas."
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