Man Accused in Wife’s Death Released

TYLER — A man law officers say is responsible for beating his wife so badly in November that she later died from her injuries is now a free man. Smith County authorities tell KETK that Kelly Gage was released from custody Tuesday. Gage’s bond was dropped from $1 million to a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Smith County DA Matt Bingham says there’s just not enough evidence to indict the suspect for murder.

Patty McHugh Gage was on life support after what appeared to be a drunken beating on Thanksgiving Day by her husband, Kelly Gage. Patty Gage later died, and her son says she’d endured years of physical abuse. Bingham says the investigation is ongoing, but that based on what he’s been told by experts, his office was unable to secure the evidence needed to indict the defendant within 90 days. Bingham cites the victim’s blood alcohol content, which he says was over 4 1/2 times the legally intoxicated limit. He says that raised doubts about whether Mrs. Gage was beaten to death or perhaps fell and hit her head.

Noting Kelly Gage’s lengthy criminal history, Bingham says he’d love to keep him in custody. But he says the suspect’s past criminal history is not admissible in the guilt/innocence stage.