BLOOMINGTON – McLean County prosecutors disclosed in a court hearing Wednesday that a Bloomington man confessed to killing his wife after she packed her belongings and planned to leave him.

Fifty-year-old Monroe Elbert reportedly told police he followed her to the bedroom, they argued about her cell phone use, and he stabbed her multiple times.

Elbert allegedly called police to his apartment, claiming he killed his wife.

Officers say they found him outside, holding a large butcher knife and wearing blood-stained clothes.

Thirty-year-old Nicole Elbert was dead at the scene, having suffered apparent trauma to her neck.

Authorities say Elbert also confessed to physically abusing his eight-year old stepson last year. The State’s Attorney’s office has charged him with aggravated battery to a child, in addition to the murder count.

This story was submitted to us by WJBC’s Howard Packowitz.