72-year-old doctor fatally suffocates wife after argument, Florida cops say

A 72-year-old doctor “spontaneously” suffocated his wife to death as she fought back, then he blamed his injuries on the family dog, Florida authorities said.

Thomas Wentzell pleaded no contest to second-degree murder on Aug. 5, and a judge adjudicated him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in prison, according to Orange County records and his attorney.

Wentzell, a now-former doctor of internal medicine, called 911 at his Orlando area home to report his wife’s death on Dec. 2, according to an arrest affidavit from the Windermere Police Department.

Police said they found Linda Wentzell, 71, lying face-up on the bed in the couple’s bedroom.

“Detectives responded and conducted a preliminary investigation and determined that the statements of Mr. Thomas Wentzell were inconsistent with their initial findings,” according to the affidavit.

The doctor was covered with bruises and cuts on his face, neck and arms, which he attributed to playing with the family dog, police said.

But detectives said the injuries appeared to be defensive wounds caused by another person.

Three days later, police said Wentzell called 911 confessing to killing his wife, WESH and WKMG reported.

Officers with the Ocoee Police Department responded to his office and brought him in for questioning at Windermere Police Department, according to the affidavit.

During the interview, he told investigators he suffocated his wife to death with a pillow after reacting “spontaneously” during an argument, police said. He also clarified the wounds he suffered were from his wife, not their dog, according to investigators.

He was taken into custody and indicted on a first-degree murder charge, but he was sentenced on the lesser offense of second-degree murder, Orange County records show.

This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM with the headline "72-year-old doctor fatally suffocates wife after argument, Florida cops say."