AUSTIN, Texas — A Kingsland man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after an investigation into the death of his wife.
Dennis Price was charged with murder after strangling his wife Carrie Price to death in October 2022.
Price's trial began on Aug. 26 but was delayed after he was injured in a bicycle crash on Labor Day. On Sept. 5, the prosecution and Dennis Price's defense team came to a plea agreement, in which he would plead guilty to manslaughter and waive his right to appeal.
According to the investigation, Price and his wife were in disagreement about the placement of their 10-month-old child, after Child Protective Services had taken the child out of their care when it was revealed there had been domestic disputes between the two. The two had been going through a divorce, but Carrie Price had been staying with her husband as they attempted to reconcile.
A few days later, the two got into an argument, which led to Dennis Price "subduing" his wife by wrapping his arms around her neck and choking her unconscious. While EMS and first responders were able to reinitiate a pulse, Carrie Price was taken to a Williamson County hospital by helicopter where she later died.
Dennis Price later admitted to investigators that he had wrapped his hands around her neck in the past.
Surveillance video from a mounted camera on a tree revealed that Dennis Price had not been entirely forthcoming with deputies about what led up to him choking his wife, which led to the initial murder charge.
“I appreciate the jurors paying very close attention to the horrible facts of this case," Llano County District Attorney Sonny McAfee said. "When speaking with the jurors after the trial was discontinued, as a result of the Defendant’s guilty plea, I believe our agreement was in line with the beliefs of the jurors. Our thanks go out to the Llano County Sheriff’s Office who tried so very hard to save Carrie’s life, and the Texas Ranger who assisted in obtaining the confession of the defendant in the case. Without their combined efforts, this case might not have been resolved as quickly as it was. Medical personnel that responded were incredibly determined, and worked valiantly to save Carrie’s life, but it was not to be.”
Dennis Price will not be eligible for parole until 2044 when he will be 65 years old.
