KANSAS CITY, MO – A Missouri man is facing charges after allegedly killing his wife amidst a contentious divorce. John Wonder, 31, is accused of strangling and stabbing his wife, Ashli Ehrhardt Wonder, 29, to death in their Kansas City home on September 22. He has since been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action
According to law enforcement, the gruesome scene was discovered in the basement laundry room of the family home, where the couple lived with their two children. The victim’s body was found with a belt around her neck, multiple puncture wounds, and a chilling message written in blood on her leg.
The police were alerted to the situation by the couple’s shared employer, who requested a welfare check after Ashli’s unexplained absence. Family members who met the police at the residence discovered the horrific scene. John Wonder was apprehended later that day in Valentine, Nebraska. The couple’s children, aged 2 and 5, were found safe with their grandparents.
In a disturbing twist, Wonder allegedly sent a series of text messages to his sister and a friend, making light of the violent act. He also left a series of messages on Facebook, indicating his intention to flee north to Fargo. The victim’s mother expressed her grief on Facebook, while a friend revealed that Ashli was just days away from moving out of the shared home.
John Wonder is currently being held on a $1 million cash bond in Nebraska, awaiting extradition back to Missouri. No court dates have been set for his case, and it is unclear if he has legal representation.