Woman who just finished chemotherapy is killed by her husband, Indiana cops say

In mid-March, Andrew Wilhoite was celebrating Nikki Wilhoite, his wife who had just finished her last round of chemotherapy.

“Absolutely gorgeous,” Andrew Wilhoite said on Facebook, showing a picture of his spouse sporting a shaved head.

But below the surface, there was turmoil in the 12-year relationship between the Lebanon, Indiana, couple. Nikki Wilhoite had filed for divorce with her husband a day before her last chemotherapy treatment, WXIN reported.

They were later involved in an argument, one that involved Andrew striking Nikki in the head “with a blunt object,” Indiana State Police say. He placed her unconscious body into his vehicle, then drove to a nearby creek to dump her body, troopers say.

Nikki Wilhoite’s body was discovered around 3 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, partially submerged in the creek. She was pronounced dead by the Boone County coroner, state police said.

“She just finished chemo and stuff,” the couple’s neighbor, Laura Vaughn, told WXIN. “She was trying to get well and for him to do something like that to her it’s not right.”

Andrew Wilhoite, 39, was taken into custody, and state police say he faces a preliminary charge of first-degree murder.

A missing person’s investigation by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office began on March 25 when Nikki Wilhoite did not show up for work. It turned into a “possible homicide investigation” when K-9 units and deputies were unable to find the 41-year-old woman, the sheriff’s office said.

The investigation was later turned to Indiana State Police due to a conflict of interest, as Andrew’s mother has served on the Boone County Council since 2005.

Nikki Wilhoite’s body was discovered about 18 hours after the search began.

Police did not say when the argument between the husband and wife took place. A motive for the killing is unclear.

“The community rallied around this family,” Indiana State Sgt. Ron Galaviz told WTHR. “The community themselves helped to look for Mrs. Wilhoite until the tragic discovery. The community did what they could and we are really appreciative of it.”

Nikki Wilhoite shared parts of her battle with cancer on Facebook. She shaved her head on Dec. 20 after she said her hair had begun falling out.

Friends mourned her death, commenting on her positive demeanor as she battled cancer.

“Nikki Wilhoite was a strong woman/mother/WIFE and a hard worker!” Evyy Sarahi said. “Despite issues with everyday life and fighting cancer she always had a smile on her at work and tried her hardest to stay positive.”

“She’s fighting to stay alive, to see her kids grow up. To have it end like this, it’s just a tragedy that no one should have to go through. It just shouldn’t be that way,” childhood friend Mary Smith told WRTV.

Lebanon is about 30 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Woman who just finished chemotherapy is killed by her husband, Indiana cops say."