A Morris County man is facing a new charge after officials said he helped wife commit suicide at their home earlier this month, officials said.

Patrick Mirrione, 79, of Parsippany, was previously charged by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office with obstructing administration of law or other governmental function and tampering with physical evidence. He concealed or removed items from the scene of his wife’s death before reporting the death, and then gave inconsistent statements to police, prosecutors said earlier this month.

The new charge of aiding suicide was announced Monday, the same day that the state Assembly and Senate approved a bill that would allow doctors to write a lethal prescription for terminally ill patients. The Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act now awaits the signature of Gov. Phil Murphy, who said he plans to sign the bill.

Mirrione dialed 911 on March 15 at 12:45 p.m. and reported a gunshot suicide at his home on 10 Concord Way, according to a release from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office

When police arrived, he told them that he found his wife in the garage with a gunshot wound, authorities said.

During the investigation of his wife’s death, Mirrione told police that he “purposely aided his wife in the commission of her suicide,” the release stated.

The name and age of Mirrione’s wife were not released by the prosecutor’s office.

Mirrione was taken to Morris County Jail to await his next court appearance for his latest charge.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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