Sarasota County woman murdered her wife and planned to bury the body, police say

An Englewood woman shot her wife to death during an argument early Saturday in their home and planned to bury the victim’s body in nearby Charlotte County, according to Sarasota County investigators.

Jessica Jaye Winkler, 48, is being charged with murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 51-year-old Rhiannon Layendecker, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday afternoon.

The investigation began when Winkler called 911 at about 3:58 p.m. Saturday to report that she murdered her wife in their home located at 1429 Overbrook Road in Englewood, the sheriff’s office said.

Arriving deputies found the victim’s body wrapped in a blanket in the bed of her own pickup truck, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives determined that Winkler murdered Layendecker during an argument in their home in the early morning hours of Saturday.

Winkler then attempted to dispose of Layendecker’s body and other evidence, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office dive team recovered unspecified evidence in a nearby body of water. Detectives said they also located a residence in Charlotte County where Winkler intended to bury Layendecker’s body.

The Medical Examiners Office’s determined Layendecker died from gunfire. The nature of her wounds was not disclosed.

Winkler was arrested on Saturday and remained in custody Sunday without bond at the Sarasota County Jail. An arraignment date was set for Jan. 19, according to jail records.

Her booking information lists her occupation as landscaping and says she is a native of Michigan.

The investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published December 17, 2017 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Sarasota County woman murdered her wife and planned to bury the body, police say."