Nebraskan survives 1 week in basement, afraid of husband who shot her in head, police say

A Nebraska woman is in stable condition after she survived for a week in her basement with a gunshot wound to the head, police say.

Cheri Langill was shot by her husband, Karl Langill, police said according to the Omaha World-Herald. The couple lives in Sarpy County, in a suburb of Omaha.

The 67-year-old woman remained in her basement from Dec. 7 until Dec. 13, this Wednesday — in part because she was too afraid of her husband to try to flee. She also suffered a broken ankle.

But her husband was found dead in the garage. Early evidence indicates he died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the World-Herald reported.

It remains unclear which day he died.

A friend who hadn’t heard from the Langills alerted police, prompting an officer to make a “check well-being” visit and discover them.

“She’d still be lying there if the friend hadn’t called 911,” Sarpy County Chief Deputy Sheriff Greg London told the World-Herald.

A .22-caliber pistol believed to be the weapon used in the shooting was discovered in the home, WOWT reported.

Police said Langill had food and water in the basement but no access to a phone.

London said he was surprised Langill was not poisoned by carbon monoxide.

“Considering she got shot in the head,” London told the World-Herald, “I think she’s in pretty decent shape.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Nebraskan survives 1 week in basement, afraid of husband who shot her in head, police say."