South County man arrested, charged in death of his wife

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A Lemay man was arrested and charged Thursday in the death of his wife, police said.

St. Louis County prosecutors have charged 62-year-old Robert Leverenz with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Robert Leverenz is being held on $1,000,000 cash-only bond.

St. Louis County police said they responded just before 10 a.m. to the 4200 block of Leeshore Drive in Lemay after they said Robert Leverenz called 911 to report that he tried to murder his wife. At the scene, police found an adult woman, identified as Kathleen Leverenz, 62, dead inside their bedroom.

Police said Robert Leverenz admitted to choking his wife and hitting her with a hammer several times. He was taken into custody at the scene.

Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 or anonymously call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.