Man hooked up live wires to door knob to electrocute pregnant wife

A man rigged live wires to the door knob of his estranged pregnant wife home to try and electrocute her, authorities said.

Michael Wilson, 33, was found not guilty of attempted murder against his wife, Ashley Wilson, on Friday. The jury instead convicted him of attempted battery.

The booby trap was set at the front door of Ashley Wilson’s house in Palm Coast, Florida in December 2017.

It featured an electrical device wired to the door knob that would electrocute anyone who put a key in the socket while putting a hand on the doorknob, which would complete the circuit.

The door had also been barricaded with chairs to force whoever opened it to grab the knob to try to force it open.

Prosecutors said Michael Wilson set up the trap at his wife’s house because he suspected her of cheating and believed the child she was carrying was not his, the Palm Coast Observer reported. 

Wilson’s lawyers said that he discovered a gun and surveillance cameras in he home, so it rigged the front door to shock any potential intruders.

He took the gun and has been convicted for stealing the firearm.

Ashley Wilson testified that she became suspicious after her husband told her to make sure she did not have her young daughter with her when she opened the front door.

She asked her parents to check on the house. When they arrived they found the area surrounding the knob charred.

They called police who kicked the door down and heard a loud electrical pop, then found the trap.

When questioned by police, Wilson first denied that he set up the trap, then said it was harmless. He later admitted that he set it up.

According to authorities, Wilson told investigators: ‘That’s a hoax, there’s nothing. You could sleep on that door with a wet towel around you, that wouldn’t do anything.’

‘That’s a trickle charger sir, that’s not a jump. … This is definitely a real whoopsie-daisy on their (law enforcement’s) part. … I had nothing to do with that: 100%, nothing to do with it.’

Wilson is set to be sentenced on August 2.