Murfreesboro Mourns Death of Mary Huhta

Jun 01, 2016 at 10:45 am by bryan


Palm Beach County police released more details about the death of Murfreesboro's Mary Huhta, while friends were mourning her loss Tuesday evening at St. Mark's United Methodist Church on North Rutherford Boulevard.

Around 10:30 Friday (5/27/2016) morning. 78-year old James Huhta, a 30+ year MTSU history professor who was on President Clinton's Council for Historic Preservation, was treated at the scene for injuries he received from either falling or jumping from the second floor porch at the couple's Eastpointe Condominium. He was then rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center in Riviera Beach, Florida.

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Family friend Justin Holder told WGNS (41 sec)...

A maintenance worker discovered Mary Huhta's lifeless body when he went to the couple's condominium to notify her that her husband was in the hospital after a fall. It was then that the lifeless body of the 79-year old women was discovered in her bed.

Murfreesboro Police Chief Carl Durr worked alongside some of the detectives currently investigating the case in Florida. In fact, Durr once worked in law enforcement in the Riviera Beach area.

After Jim Huhta was arrested, the former MTSU professor allegedly told police that he was feeling distraught and grabbed a knife from the kitchen. Police reports indicate that he took it into the bedroom and stabbed Mary twice in the stomach. He told detectives that his wife fought back and that he next held her down with a pillow. The altercation allegedly lasted for approximately 15-minutes.

The Palm Beach County medical examiner is doing an autopsy to determine whether Mary Huhta died of the stab wounds or suffocation with the pillow.

Police noted that James Huhta told told them that he and his wife no longer shared a bedroom, because he snores. He further said they were moving from the apartment and he was overwhelmed.

He later told police that he was distraught and attempted to overdose on insulin, used by diabetics, but awoke feeling hopeless and decided to jump from the second floor balcony.

When Jim Huhta was released from the hospital, police arrested and charged him with first degree murder. He is being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail.

Below: Photo of Mary Huhta

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