A north-east man who moved to America to start a new life has been charged with murdering his wife with a handgun at an apartment building in Mississippi.
Wayne Sydney Fraser, 45, who is originally from Mintlaw, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies after they were called to the property in the town of Caledonia at 8am on Thursday December 30.
Inside they discovered the body of his wife Natalie Ryan-Fraser, 55, as well as a nine-millimetre gun, Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said.
Coroner Greg Merchant told the Mississippi Dispatch that Natalie, a senior English instructor who lived in San Angelo, Texas, was visiting her husband as he was working in the area at the time.
In a statement, Sheriff Hawkins said officers arrived at the Cedar Street apartment at around 8am in response to a welfare check.
Mr Hawkins said the investigation is in the “preliminary stages”.
Just a day before her death, on December 29, wheelchair-bound Natalie had posted on Facebook that she was out for a meal with Fraser, who she described as “my love”.
The couple had been together for more than 10 years and got married in 2014.
Fraser remains in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center and a bail bond of $500,000 has been set.
It is understood Fraser had been working for an industrial painting and coating firm based in Hamilton, Mississippi.
According to his Linkedin profile, he attended Mintlaw Academy and Banff and Buchan Technical College.
Tributes to Natalie
Colleagues of Natalie have paid tribute in the wake of her death.
Dr Ronnie Hawkins, Angelo State University’s president, said in an email to staff and students: “It is with a heavy heart that I notify our campus community of the loss of one of our long-term faculty members, Natalie Ryan.
“Natalie was a senior instructor in the Department of English and Modern Languages, and made an impact on the lives of countless students.
“On behalf of ASU leadership, we extend our deepest sympathy and support to her family, friends and co-workers during this difficult time. Natalie made a difference in the lives of many and will be missed.”
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