MANKATO, Minn. -- A Minnesota woman who frantically called 9-1-1 to report that someone shot her husband is now in jail, accused of his murder.
33-year-old Jennifer Nibbe of Lake Crystal is suspected of murdering her husband 26-year-old James Nibbe.
She was arrested Friday afternoon outside the surgical center in Mankato where she works as a nurse.
Captain Rich Murray with the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office spoke at a news conference in Mankato Saturday and said, "We made contact with her in the parking lot. Very low key and without incident."
Jennifer Nibbe called 9-1-1 on the morning of August 31st to report a burglary and shooting in her home.
Blue Earth County Sheriffs officials said she told them an intruder wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark nylon over his face shot her husband with the couple's own shotgun. The criminal complaint said James Nibbe was found face down in bed, "as if he were sleeping."
The complaint said Jennifer Nibbe told them the intruder, holding a knife, then dragged her with a rope around her neck into the living room.
Murray said, "From the beginning we had a lot of trouble with the story we were given." He said there was no obvious evidence of an intruder.
He said, "The house was dark, it had rained, no vehicle tracks, no footprints."
And items Jennifer said the intruder had used had all come from within the home or from the property which investigators said would have taken some time for an intruder to gather.
During their investigation investigators also found out Jennifer Nibbe had been "sexting" to another man, sending text messages and nude photos of her.
And they said they found a journal with a number of entries that referred to the other man. One entry said, "I'm married to one man that I care about but in love with another man who has a girlfriend, a baby on the way but still tells me he loves me."
James Nibbes family didn't want to talk to media Saturday but issued a statement. It said, "We must all try to remember Jim's beauty in these ashes in order for our family to heal. Jim had a beautiful smile, but also a beautiful spirit and I feel sorry for those of you who were never touched by either one. Jim was our beloved son, incredible brother and caring uncle. Jim loved life and loved to make people laugh. Please remember this amazing man and pray for our family. The Nibbes"
Murray said, "The family is taking it very hard." He continued, "I think they were just as shocked as everyone else."
Jennifer Nibbe has a 16-year-old son from a previous relationship. Her son was home at the time of the shooting but investigators believe the son had no knowledge of what they think really happened.
They also do not believe the man to whom Jennifer Nibbe had been texting was involved in the murder in any way.
Investigators do think Jennifer had been fraudulently obtaining prescription pain meds and they believe she may be thousands of dollars in debt.
They said a $250,000 life insurance policy was taken out on James Nibbe in June.
Murray said investigators believe Jennifer Nibbe acted alone. However, while they believe they have enough evidence to charge her, much evidence is still being processed so the investigation is not yet complete.
Jennifer Nibbe is charged with second degree murder.
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