Idaho man pleads guilty to fatally shooting wife, faces up to life in prison
After nearly a year in jail, a Meridian man accused of killing his wife last year appeared in Ada County court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
Eric Steiner, 42, was charged in the death of Christine Steiner, 41, on March 5. Pursuant to a plea agreement, prosecutors will dismiss the charge of enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime that Steiner faced.
Steiner called 911 himself to report Christine’s death, and told the dispatcher, “I killed my wife.” Meridian police officers went to their rental home in the 500 block of East Chateau Drive and found the woman dead in the bathroom from a gunshot wound to the head.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 25 years to life in prison and the defense will argue for less. The judge is not bound by the recommendations of attorneys.
Two children, a 17-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, were living in the house but were not home at the time of the shooting, according to authorities. They were home when Steiner surrendered and was arrested. Both children were uninjured.
Before accepting his guilty plea, District Judge Samuel Hoagland asked Steiner what happened on March 5.
Steiner explained that he and his wife had been arguing. First they were arguing about whether they’d be able to pay rent and then they were arguing because his wife asked him whether he’d been smoking cigarettes.
Steiner said his wife was yelling at him, and “I said, your honor, I’ve had enough.”
“I don’t know what came over me, but I just decided then that that was it,” Steiner told the judge.
Steiner said he waited for his wife to get out of the shower and hit her in the forehead with a crowbar, but it didn’t kill her. “I panicked and grabbed my pistol,” Steiner said. The pistol was already in his waistband.
In June, testimony revealed that Steiner told the police dispatcher that he also planned to kill the children, but he couldn’t do it.
Steiner is set for sentencing on June 26 and remains in custody at the Ada County Jail.
Need help?
The Women’s and Children’s Alliance in Boise is available at 208-343-7025 for victims of domestic violence or online at wcaboise.org.
The Faces of Hope Victim Center is available for victims in need of emergency services at 417 S. 6th St. in Boise. Victims should call 911 in emergencies or call 208-577-4400 on weekdays during business hours. Faces of Hope provides free medical care and forensic examinations for victims, as well as assistance with filing police reports and mental health care after an assault.
Anyone in need of help or who believes they may be in a violent relationship is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
