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Woman arrested for murdering wife in Englewood

Posted at 3:57 PM, Dec 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-18 08:58:00-05

A 48-year-old Jessica Winkler was arrested after Sarasota County sheriff's deputies say she called 911 and admitted to murdering her wife, Rihannon Layendecker. 

The investigation began on Saturday at approximately 3:58 p.m. after the initial call to deputies went out. When Deputies arrived on scene they found 51-year-old Rhiannon Layendecker, in the bed of her own truck wrapped in a blanket.

Deputies suspect Winkler murdered Layendecker during an argument and attempted to dispose her body and other evidence, SCSO said in a report.

Four in your corner spoke with neighbors living near Winkler and Layendecker. One of them, Carrie Banks has been living across the street from the home where the incident occupied for only a short time. She says that Winkler was a rare sight in the neighborhood and Layendecker was the only one regularly seen around the property. 

"The one we've never really seen and the other one, she just sits in front of her garage on a daily basis", she told Four in Your Corner on Sunday while deputies continued to investigate the scene. 

The Sheriff's Underwater Recovery Force later discovered evidence in a body of water nearby and a residence in Charlotte County where Winkler intended to bury her wife's body.

One neighbor who didn't want to be identified told Fox 4 that she questioned how well she knew the people living near her after hearing about the violent crime just a block away from her own home. 

"I don't know it's nuts." She told Four In Your Corner. 

"Now you have that person, what not even a block away from you."

Medical examiners revealed that Layendecker died from a gun shot wound. Winkler was arrested and remains at the Sarasota County Jail without bond.