Man Shoots and Kills Fiancee Day Before Wedding

On the day before his wedding, John Tabutt was stirred from his sleep by what he thought was an intruder.

He reached for his gun and stepped into the hallway. He spotted an unrecognizable figure before him. He opened fire.

Then realized he had just shot his fiancée.

She was pronounced dead shortly after. They were scheduled to get married on Saturday at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Winter Springs, which is 15 miles north of Orlando.

A “very distraught” Tabutt told police that he thought Nancy Dinsmore was next to him in bed the whole time. Both 62 years old, the live-in couple were very much in love, said Dinsmore’s son-in-law Scott Sposato of Vero Beach.

"Right now everything points to a tragic accident," Police Chief Kevin Brunelle told The Associated Press, adding investigators were awaiting forensic results.

Tabutt called 911 shortly after 2:30 a.m. Friday, moaning and sobbing, the newspaper reported.

"I thought I had an intruder in the house," he told the emergency dispatcher. "Honest to God, she looks dead."

He then thought he heard her take a breath.

"Hang in there, Honey. Hang in there," he said.

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