69-year-old Clarence Edward Tyson of West Iredell Circle in Statesville has been arrested by Iredell County Sheriff’s Officers on a charge of first-degree murder. He is accused of killing his wife.

At about 2:30 a.m. Monday (November 13), Deputies were called to the emergency room at Iredell Memorial Hospital regarding an elderly female who was the victim of an assault. When Deputies arrived, they learned that the woman had been brought to the hospital by her husband, Clarence Tyson. Emergency lifesaving efforts were attempted by medical staff, but the victim, 68-year-old Rebecca Tyson, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased.

After speaking with Clarence Tyson, Deputies learned that a domestic altercation had taken place at the couple’s home. Deputies went to the West Iredell Circle residence and secured the crime scene. Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators launched an investigation. Detectives collected evidence, interviewed witnesses, and interviewed the husband, Clarence Tyson. According to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office, Detectives obtained evidence indicating that Clarence Tyson had brutally assaulted his wife at the residence. When Clarence Tyson found his wife was non-responsive, he took her to the hospital where she passed away.

Tuesday morning (November 14), an autopsy conducted by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office showed that Rebecca Tyson’s cause of death was strangulation. She also had other severe injuries from the assault, which included several broken bones and severe bruising. Detectives then charged Clarence Tyson with first-degree murder.

Tyson was jailed without bond. He’ll appear in District Court on the murder charge on December 6. Another appearance on charges of felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury and misdemeanor assault on a female was scheduled for December 4.

The suspect has a criminal history that includes felony larceny by employee, two counts of misdemeanor assault on a female, misdemeanor larceny, and driving while impaired.