An Indiana man has been charged with the murder of his breast cancer survivor wife who filed for divorce after she learned he was having an affair while she was undergoing chemotherapy.
Elizabeth ‘Nikki’ Wilhoite, 41, was killed after her husband, Andrew Wilhoite, hit her with a gallon-sized cement flowerpot last week, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Nikki, who reportedly attacked her husband during a confrontation over his alleged affair, fell to the ground after being hit.
Andrew, 39, told investigators he “didn’t know what to do,” so he loaded Nikki’s body into his truck and dumped it in a stream near her farm in Lebanon.
The Boone County coroner ruled Nikki’s death a homicide Sunday after her autopsy, and Andrew was charged with the murder Monday, court documents show. He is expected to appear in court for a first hearing on Tuesday.
Nikki’s exact cause of death is yet to be determined while the corner awaits test results.
Breast cancer survivor Elizabeth “Nikki” Wilhoite, 41, was killed after her husband allegedly hit her with a gallon-sized cement flower pot after an argument last week
Andrew Wilhoite, 39, had fallen out with Nikki after she confronted him about an affair he had while she was undergoing chemotherapy. Nikki had filed for divorce, court records show
Police began investigating Nikki’s death on Friday after their colleagues at Indiana Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery reported that the mother-of-two and stepmother-of-one had failed to show up for work.
During the initial call to authorities, a co-worker claimed Nikki had “issues with her husband” and had recently “filed for divorce,” The Daily Beast reported.
“It wasn’t like Elizabeth not to show up for work,” the colleague told police.
When officers arrived at the Wilhoite family home, they were greeted by the three children, who said Nikki wasn’t home and they couldn’t reach her.
“Elizabeth could be with her sister,” Nikki’s stepdaughter told police, adding, “Elizabeth leaves when she’s upset.”
As police prepared to leave the farm, Andrew “pulled into the driveway in a blue tractor” and informed police that his wife was missing.
According to the affidavit, “Andrew said they had a pretty good argument last night and she was drunk.”
He also reportedly pointed to claw marks on his neck, suggesting they were evidence of the couple’s encounter.
The accused killer then told police that his wife was asleep on the couch Thursday night and that he did not see her the next morning when he went “to get corn”.
“Andrew stated that he was in bed and Elizabeth was freaking out,” the affidavit reads.
“Andrew shared that this is not the first time an incident like this has happened. Andrew Wilhoite explained that he did things to Elizabeth that he shouldn’t have done before.
The father-of-three also claimed Nikki withdrew $3,000 from their joint bank account and “had an attorney and filed for divorce.”
Andrew then told police he feared “something drug-related” happened to his wife.
However, police allege that Andrew’s apparent lies began to unravel after officers spoke to Elizabeth’s father, Thomas Richards, who confirmed that on March 18 she had withdrawn money because “she had to divorce Andrew”.
The victim’s father also told police he believed Andrew “did something to Elizabeth”.
Andrew told investigators after punching Nikki he “didn’t know what to do,” so he put her body in his truck and dumped it in a creek near her home on a farm in Lebanon, Indiana
Around 3 a.m. Saturday, police found Nikki’s body “partially submerged in about three feet of water” in the creek
Nikki and Andrew shared two children. She was also his daughter’s stepmother
When police searched the Wihoite’s property, they discovered blood on sheets and a pillow in the master bedroom, as well as “small drips on and around the door and in the master bathroom on the sink.”
Indiana State Police were called to help with the investigation and interviewed Andrew, during which he reportedly confessed to the affair and claimed Nikki “took the news hard.”
He told investigators that the couple agreed to process his infidelity and claimed they planned to start counseling in May and that he was caught off guard by Nikki’s filing for divorce.
“Andrew stated that he refused to sign the documents without his own attorney reviewing them,” the affidavit added.
Later during this interrogation, Andrew also admitted to killing Nikki after she started yelling at him about the affair, began “physically hitting” him and ordered him out of the family home.
He confessed to throwing Nikki out the front door and hitting her in the face with the flower pot. He then threw her body over the wall of a bridge and into a nearby creek, police said.
When asked if Nikki was still breathing when he threw her in the water, Andrew said, “He didn’t know because he wasn’t looking,” but didn’t recall “her moaning or moving at all.”
Police allege Andrew then picked up the shards of the broken flower pot, put them in a plastic bag and threw them out the window of his truck while he was on his way to drop off a load of corn in Linden, Indiana.
Around 3 a.m. Saturday, police found Nikki’s body “partially submerged in about three feet of water,” according to Indiana State Police.
Andrew told investigators the couple had agreed to process his infidelity, claiming they planned to start counseling in May and that he was caught unawares by Nikki’s filing for divorce
Police say he also confessed to killing his wife after telling police blatant lies about her disappearance
Those close to Nikki have hailed her as “such a strong woman” who’s been through more than they realized.
Mary Smith, her longtime friend, claimed Nikki “finished chemotherapy last week” after “fighting to survive.”
“She’s struggling to stay alive and see her kids grow up. That it ended up like this is just a tragedy that no one should go through. It just wasn’t meant to be,” Smith told WRTV. ‘Why? What happens just make [Andrew] lose control?’
‘What made him lash out like that?’ She asked. “It’s so annoying to wonder if she had any idea she was in danger.”
Smith said Nikki will be remembered for her dedication to her family and positive personality.
“She was just having fun. You could always count on her to have a funny story or just to make you laugh,” Smith shared. “She could be friends with anyone and was just fun to be with. Just a truly devoted mother.’
Those close to Nikki have hailed her as “such a strong woman” who’s been through more than they realized
Nikki “had just finished chemotherapy last week” after “fighting to her death and wanting to see her kids grow up,” her close friend shared. The friend also stated that they were unaware of the tensions between Nikki and Andrew
Along with her reported commitment to her children, Nikki has also been very open about her struggles online.
Her last Facebook post, published on March 20, included a quote from author Emma Grace, which read, “You deserve a life that doesn’t hurt.”
The couple also apparently took to social media to document Nikki’s health progress, with Andrew posting a photo of her on March 18 with the caption, “This lady just finished her last chemo today… very proud of you.”
Now Nikki’s Facebook page is being inundated with tributes from friends and strangers alike.
‘She was beautiful. She definitely deserved better than what he did to her,” wrote Jamie Fredericks.
‘My heart is broken. May you rest in peace and receive justice,” repeated Becky Tucker Cash.
“You didn’t deserve this at all, Nikki. RIP sweet beautiful mama,” said Laci Harper.
Laura Henry added: “YOU deserve so much more! Now God will ensure that you will not be hurt again for eternity.’
Boone County’s Mental Health America also took to Facebook to mourn Nikki’s loss, writing, “We are saddened by the tragedy of her death.”
“We know this may stir up many difficult emotions now and in the coming days and weeks.”
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a toll-free helpline in the United States that provides confidential 24-hour assistance. It can be reached at 1-800-799-7233. The hotline is available to abuse survivors, concerned friends or family members, and others, including abusive partners, who wish to make a change.