Insurance executive William Lynn Gunter accused of killing his wife, Suzanne.

A 59-year-old wealthy St. Louis man is accused of killing his wife earlier this week.

Authorities say William Lynn Gunter, of Town and Country, a wealthy town outside of St. Louis, struck his 55-year-old wife, Suzanne Gunter, in the head with some sort of instrument then either pushed or placed her at the bottom of the staircase inside their home to make it look like she fell.

Gunter, who is a Vice President at AHM Financial Group, was charged with first-degree murder.

Town and Country Police were called to 1515 Mason Hill Court Monday, where Gunter told officers he found his wife laying in the foyer of their home near the front door.

A forensic pathologist later determined that the cause of the injury did not happen the way the business executive said it did.

Suzanne “Suzy” Ball Gunter was an active volunteer in the Parkway School District.