the stench of decomposition was overwhelming, and police walked upstairs to confront bill bruns for the. >> bill is sitting upstairs in his home in the kitchen area. he's eating a plate of spaghetti for supper around 6:00 in the evening. we walk through the door, advised bill, you're under arrest, bill, for the murder of your wife. >> when they unearthed the body, you could smell the stench for miles. and he's upstairs in the house eating spaghetti and when they come up to arrest him, he asked in he could finish his dinner before they took him away. it just kind of shows what a sick individual he was. >> bill bruns was arrested and charged with murder. x-rays showed three fractures to the left side of pearl's face, but the skin was not torn. an indication that pearl was struck with a fist. >> what do you think you're doing? >> getting out of here. >> prosecutors believe that on august 11th, bill and pearl argued about money and the fight became physical. he struck her three times with enough force that the cast-off blood spatter landed on pearl's suitcase, on the wall, and on the floor.