US man charged with wife’s murder wins Republican town primary from jail

A central Indiana man accused of murdering his wife and dumping her body in a creek in March has won a Republican primary election for township board in the state – from jail.

Andrew Wilhoite, 40, of Lebanon received 60 of the 276 total votes on Tuesday for Republicans for three positions on the Clinton township board, Boone county election results showed.

Wilhoite was arrested in late March in connection with the death of 41-year-old Elizabeth “Nikki” Wilhoite, whom, the authorities suspect, was killed by a blow from a gallon-sized concrete flower pot, the Indianapolis Star reports.

He has been held since then in the Boone county jail without bond, charged with murder.

Indiana police allege Andrew Wilhoite struck Nikki Wilhoite in the head with a blunt object, knocking her out.

He then put her in a vehicle and drove to a creek a few miles from their home and dumped her body there after dropping it from a bridge, police allege.

Police found Nikki Wilhoite’s body on 26 March partially submerged in about three feet of water.

Court records indicate Nikki Wilhoite filed for divorce on 17 March. The couple had been married for 12 years.

Andrew Wilhoite’s jury trial is scheduled for 29 August, court records show.

If he is convicted of a felony before the 8 November general election, he would automatically be removed from the ballot. No Democrats have filed for the board.

“Under our legal system, every person is innocent until proven guilty,” said Brad King, co-director of the Indiana Election Division.

A message seeking further comment was left on Friday by the Associated Press for Wilhoite’s attorney.

The township board has three members and only three people stood for election.

Nikki Wilhoite was reported missing on 25 March after failing to report for work.