Man accused of smothering terminally ill wife accepts plea deal

ST. GEORGE – A man who prosecutors say tried to end his terminally ill wife's life by choking her has accepted a plea deal.

DeWayne McCulla, 46, pleaded guilty Thursday in 5th District Court to an amended charge of attempted homicide, a third-degree felony. The charge is accompanied by an increase in punishment for domestic violence.

Arenda Lee McCulla, 47, died on December 21, 2021 as a result of her battle with breast cancer. However, the night before, with a small group of family members at her side in La Verkin, DeWayne McCulla choked the victim, killing her to ease her suffering while they were with her during her terminal cancer and in hospice care “The charging documents say.

Other family members pulled McCulla away from his wife.

Anthony Michael Ryder, Arenda McCulla's son, filed a report with La Verkin police in 2022 regarding DeWayne McCulla's alleged actions. Police launched an investigation and McCulla was originally charged with attempted murder in December 2023.

Ryder tells KSL.com he opposed the plea deal and hopes to have an opportunity to speak in court when McCulla is sentenced on Dec. 12.