Pocatello, Idaho

From Reno’s KRNV.com of August 29, 2007

Marriage of Former Reno Couple Ends in Tragedy

The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly shooting at a home in Swan Valley between a wife and her husband.

Last night, Debra Schultz says she shot her husband once in the chest, claiming it was in self defense. 48-year-old William Schultz died.

Detectives are treating it like a homicide until they get all the facts.

Court and crime specialist Suzanne Hobbs spoke with law enforcement and with the woman who pulled the trigger.

Debra Schultz says throughout her relationship he was physically violent and she never got out, although just last week she did go to a women's shelter in Driggs for help, and just returned home where she had to fight for her life.

Three months ago, the couple moved from Reno Nevada to Swan Valley. They lived in an apartment just off the Swan Valley Highway above a real estate office.

Tuesday night, Debra says her husband was high on marijuana and drinking. The fight got so bad he grabbed a gun and said he was going to shoot her. She says it was either shoot him or she would be killed.

She even considered jumping out of the second story window, but says William stopped her.

She didn't want her battered and bruised face to be shown, so when I talked to her, we are showing you her injured leg, hurt as she was running down the stairs last night.

Debra Schultz said, "When he came home last night he told me that he was going to kill me and that was after he beat up my face and he said, "I can't let you go now because if the cops see this I'm going to go to prison." And he already has 5 charges in Reno hanging over his head for domestic violence against me."

Doug Metcalf, Bonneville Co. Sheriff's Office said, "Right now we are treating it as a homicide and it'll - we'll turn it into the prosecutor once we get all the interviews, the evidence from the autopsy and things like that to him, and they'll make the decision whether it's homicide or self defense."

The sheriff's office says their investigation will take several days. Debra, who is fully cooperating, is already making plans to move back to Reno as soon as she can..

From Idaho Falls’ LocalNews8.com of October 1, 2007

No Charges Filed In Swan Valley Homicide

No charges will be pressed against the woman who shot and killed her husband a month ago in Swan Valley.

Today prosecutor Dane Watkins says that Debra Schultz shot her husband in an act of self defense.

The shooting came after a violent relationship that lasted a year.

According to Schultz, her husband William put her in the hospital multiple times during their courting period and again once they were married.

They were from Reno, Nevada and moved to Idaho to escape the five pending domestic violence charges against William.

Bonneville County Prosecutor Dane Watkins says he is not pressing charges against Schultz because theres evidence to prove she was the victim of domestic violence the night of August 28th.

She had extensive bruising and other injuries. She also says William made threats against her life.

Schultz tells investigators that William went for the gun and came toward her and that's when she says she got control of the gun and shot him at close range.

Prosecutor Dane Watkins says her story lines up with the evidence.

In an interview less than 24 hours after Schultz shot her husband she said, "He said I'm going to kill you and so I just pulled the trigger, I didn't know what else to do. It was me or him, he was, I could tell by the look in his eyes I was dead, I was going to be dead."

Prosecutor Dane Watkins explains his decision, "In order to prove self defense the defendant must believe she was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that action was necessary to save her from harm."

Watkins says that William Schultz's family is upset that no one is being held accountable for their son's death.

The case will remain open with the Bonneville County Sheriffs Office, in the case that more information arises in this case.

Debra Schultz has returned to Nevada where her family lives.