90-year-old Calif. man charged with killing terminally ill wife to end her suffering

Man, 90, charged with killing terminally ill wife

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. — A 90-year-old retired physician has been charged with killing his terminally ill wife at their Southern California home but remains hospitalized after turning the gun on himself.

Dr. James Fish was charged Monday with voluntary manslaughter and could face 21 years in prison if convicted.

Authorities say Fish apparently wanted to end his wife’s suffering when he allegedly shot 88-year-old Phyllis Fish on Sunday at their Leisure World home in Laguna Woods.

District attorney’s spokeswoman Susan Schroeder says Fish gave the bedridden woman morphine and first used a gun that didn’t fire. A caretaker called 911, but prosecutors claim Fish got another gun and shot both his wife and himself in the head.