Home Scandal and Gossip Virginia husband sets disabled wife on fire burned her alive (after huge...

Virginia husband sets disabled wife on fire burned her alive (after huge fight).

Christopher Koulouris: About author bio at bottom of article.
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Delano Grangruth
Delano Grangruth. Image via Norfolk Sheriff's Office.
Delanao Grangruth
Pictured, Norfolk, Virginia man, Delano Grangruth who set disabled wife, Kathleen White-Grangruth on fire.

Delano Grangruth a Norfolk, Virginia husband charged with murder after dousing disabled wife, Kathleen White-Grangruth with gasoline and setting her on fire alive.

A Norfolk, Virginia man has confessed to setting his disabled wife on fire and burning her alive after dousing her with gasoline.

The admission follows The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reporting Delano Grangruth, 58 being charged with second-degree murder in the death of 61-year-old Kathleen White-Grangruth along with burning a building with the intent to commit a felony.

Detective Matthew Nordan says firefighters went to the couple’s home in April after White-Grangruth’s nurse smelled something burning and called 911. Firefighters forced their way inside and found White-Grangruth heavily burned.

Kathleen Grangruth, was found the wife dead sitting in a living room chair at the couple’s Norfolk home reported WAVY.

Grangruth told detectives he and his wife, who used a wheelchair, having a serious fight, with the man sleeping at a bar. Authorities say the husband returned home, setting White-Grangruth ablaze.

The husband told police his wife was suffering from dementia and wheelchair bound. He also said he was the moribund woman’s primary caregiver. The couple had been married for over 20 years.

Told the husband at the time of his April arrest, ‘I couldn’t even leave the house at the end, because I just couldn’t trust anyone anymore with her alone,’

Asked if he’d killed his wife, Grangruth declined answering, only to respond, ‘I can’t discuss that right now, but I can say one thing and that she is sorely missed’. 

Adding, ‘I miss her. I love her. Her family misses her. It’s an unfortunate incident.’

While adding, ‘I’m not a monster.’ 

Delano Grangruth
Delano Grangruth. Image via Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.

Delano Grangruth prior incidents of assault against disabled wife:

Of disconcert, court records showed Grangruth having been charged with assaulting Kathleen three times in the past 12 years.

In the latest incident, 2015, an arresting officer wrote the disabled wife being pushed multiple times and that Delano threatened to kill her and burn the house down if she called police.

In this case, the charge was dismissed because the victim didn’t show up in court.

Grangruth is scheduled to go to court in September. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer.

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