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February 12, 2012

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Man, 86, dies in suicide pact case

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Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Deputy public defenders Kristine Kuzemka and Dan Silverstein, right, speak with Joseph Woods, 86, during a hearing before Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle on Oct. 8 at the Regional Justice Center.

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Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009 | 11:15 a.m.

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An 86-year-old man facing criminal charges for allegedly shooting his wife in what authorities called a suicide pact has died and the case against him has been dismissed.

Joseph C. Woods was scheduled to be arraigned today in Clark County District Court, but his attorney, Dan Silverstein, informed the judge that his client died Tuesday morning.

Woods allegedly killed his 80-year-old wife, Kay, at their home, 1808 S. 10th St., on Sept. 23 before shooting himself in the chest.

According to court documents, Joseph and Kay Woods made a suicide pact because both suffered from serious health problems.

The couple's children found them the next morning. Joseph was breathing but Kay was dead, according to a report detailing Woods’ September arrest.

Their daughter found a note on the kitchen table that read: "Sorry, please forgive us, take care of Lilly, Ma and Pa," the report said. The name "Lilly" wasn't mentioned elsewhere in the report.

Woods’ daughter informed the attorneys about her father’s death yesterday. Prosecutors today agreed to dismiss the case without proof of a death certificate.

“I’m glad it’s dismissed and that he died a free man,” Woods attorney Kristine Kuzemka said.

Woods was released from custody in late October due to his poor health. He was being cared for at a local nursing home, Silverstein said.

“This is kind of the way he wanted it,” Silverstein said. “He would have preferred that he had gone with his wife of 63 years, but they’re in the same place now and he’s happier.”

Initially charged with murder in Kay Woods’ death, Joseph Woods was set to plead guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in district court.

Silverstein had previously said Woods’ health had deteriorated to the point he could die before the case went to trial. In addition to injuries stemming from the self-inflicted gunshot wound, Woods had a variety of health problems and was taking dozens of prescription medications, Silverstein said.

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