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A 70 year old Washington man is accused of killing his wife.

James Dean Blum is charged with second degree murder in the death of Patricia Blum.

Police were called to the Blum residence a 1009 E. Washington Street at approximately 2:12 pm Monday. James Blum had told 911 personnel that he had possibly killed his wife. Patricia Blum was later pronounced dead at the Washington County Hospital.

In an affidavit signed by a Washington Police Officer, Blum admitted that he killed his wife by “smothering her, after she had backed into the garage door.” Blum said the couple had been having “disagreements for several weeks.” He went on to say that he “meant to kill his wife, and that he held her face down on the couch for 2-3 minutes until she stopped breathing.” The document also shows Blum said that “his wife pleaded with him to let her go while he was holding her down.”

The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to perform an autopsy on Patricia Blum’s body.

At an initial court appearance Tuesday, Blum’s Bond was set at $100,000 cash only. He remains lodged in the Washington County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 20, 2010.

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