A 54-year-old Imperial man has been charged with second-degree murder in the Friday (July 20) death of his wife.

Matthew McDonough was charged Saturday in the death of Deborah McDonough, 38, of St. Louis.

He was being held Saturday at the Jefferson County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies discovered Deborah McDonough’s body in a bedroom at Matthew McDonough’s home in the 100 block of Harvest Grove in Imperial.

They found Matthew McDonough in the basement of the home with apparent self-inflicted lacerations, the report said.

The Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the home at about 7:45 p.m. Friday after being contacted by neighbors. The neighbors had gone to the home at the request of Deborah McDonough’s mother, who wanted them to check on the well-being of her daughter and grandchildren, the report said.

The neighbors said Deborah’s mother told them the McDonoughs were separated and that Deborah had gone to the home for a family event.

The neighbors couldn’t find Deborah or Matthew McDonough, but they removed the children from the home until deputies arrived, fearing for the children’s safety, the report said.

The Sheriff’s Office called emergency personnel to scene, who treated Matthew McDonough at the house before taking him to an area hospital, according to the report. Deborah McDonough’s body was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

After being treated at the hospital, Matthew McDonough was taken to the Jefferson County Jail for booking, the report said.

The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged him on Saturday.

A press release issued by the Sheriff’s Office did not provide information on Deborah McDonough’s cause of death.

– Peggy Bess