An 84-year-old resident of Lower Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania, has been charged with first and third-degree murder following the death of his 85-year-old wife.
The incident, rooted in a domestic dispute over veterinary bills for their pet cat, resulted in a violent altercation leading to Margaret Seltmann’s death.
On November 28, 2023, Barton Seltmann called 911 at about 2:30 p.m., reporting that his home had been ransacked and his wife appeared to have been fatally beaten by an intruder. However, when first responders arrived at the scene, they discovered Margaret Seltmann dead on the kitchen floor, with evident blunt force injuries to her head. Barton was found on the back porch, his hands, face, and clothing stained with blood.
According to an affidavit obtained by NBC Philadelphia, the husband later revealed to the police that the confrontation with his wife escalated from a verbal argument over expenses related to their cat’s veterinary care.
During the argument, Margaret allegedly grabbed a knife and threatened him. In response, her husband claimed to have used a chair to push his wife down, subsequently punching her and striking her head with a candleholder. Investigators found a small kitchen knife and shards of glass from a broken candle jar beneath her body.
Family members have indicated that he may have been experiencing memory loss in the weeks preceding the incident. Sandy Seltmann, his sister-in-law, reported that Margaret had expressed concerns about her husband’s potential dementia. Despite these concerns, the couple, married for over 30 years and known to have a happy relationship, showed no apparent signs of distress.
Barton, who had built their Lower Pottsgrove home, was described by his brother Ron as being part of a tightly-knit family, making the incident even more shocking to relatives.
The suspect is currently held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. He has not requested a public defender. The preliminary hearing for his case is scheduled for December 5.
The couple’s cat, which was central to the dispute that led to this tragic incident, is now being cared for by a family member, confirmed by the District Attorney’s Office.