The man charged with murder following SWAT standoff confessed to killing his wife, JSO says

Jacksonville — The man arrested after a SWAT standoff last Friday on the Southside is being charged with murder and tampering with evidence. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says, during a press conference on Tuesday, 45-year-old Gerard Stewart confessed to killing his wife and placing her in the trunk of his car. Police have identified Stewart's wife as 42-year-old Julie Stewart. JSO says she was stabbed and wasn't alive when she was put in the truck. JSO says as they were responding to the house, on Cavalry Boulevard in the Sandalwood area, Stewart was trying to leave the driveway, and when officers got to the home is when he barricaded himself inside.

JSO says he confessed to killing his wife as he was talking with police during the SWAT standoff then once again after he was released from the hospital and taken to jail. Police say he also threaten to commit suicide during the standoff. JSO says when JFRD came to the house to open the trunk of the car, her body was wrapped in something. Police say in the confession Stewart cited ongoing domestic issues as the motive and police say the couple was going through a divorce. JSO says they’re were no prior calls to the home before the incident.

Police say Steward was released from UF Health Monday and then taken to the Duval County Jail.