Murphy summer resident charged with murdering husband

MURPHY – A Florida woman who lives part of the year in Cherokee County is facing a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of her husband at their vacation home west of Murphy.

In addition to the murder charge, Cherokee County Sheriff Office investigators also charged Maria Brickman, 53, of Fort Myers, Florida, with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious bodily injury, Sheriff Derrick Palmer said.

Robert Jon Brickman, 70, suffered a gunshot wound Wednesday night following an argument with his wife, Palmer said. The victim died the next day.

Deputies were called to the couple’s home on Laurelwood Circle, in the Hothouse community west of Murphy, shortly after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday regarding a domestic dispute, the sheriff said.

After deputies found Robert Brickman with an apparent gunshot wound, Cherokee County EMS personnel responded and began lifesaving measures. Brickman was transported to Copper Basin Medical Center in nearby Ducktown, Tennessee, then airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he died early Thursday.

The State Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the investigation.

Maria Brickman is being held without bond at the Cherokee County Detention Center. She is scheduled for an initial court appearance on the charges Wednesday morning in Cherokee County District Court.

Anyone with information about the case, or any other crime in Cherokee County, can call an anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip to crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.