A Westminster man is accused of killing his wife while their three young children were in the home - and then claiming she committed suicide.

Gary Lee Nickal called police at 6 a.m. on Thursday, April 28 and said he had heard a gunshot and found his wife unconscious on the bathroom floor.

Officers went to the home in the 5800 block of 94th Place and "immediately noticed the physical evidence did not match the story" Nickal was telling them.

The victim has been identified as Molly Jean Nickal, 35.

The couple’s three young children were in the home at the time but were not injured, police said. The children are currently with family members.

Westminster Police took Nickal, 39, into custody on the charge of first-degree homicide.

Nickal is currently being housed in the Jefferson County Detention Facility.

His next court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 6.

--------- Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines.

Or, keep up-to-date on the latest news and weather with the Denver7 apps for iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle.