A man who is charged with killing his pregnant wife with a sword in York County in late January told investigators he had to destroy her to save the world, according to a York Dispatch report.

John D. Ziegler III's statements to police were revealed in testimony taken during his preliminary hearing Friday morning, the report said.

John Ziegler III

Ziegler, 31, told police that 25-year-old Diana Ziegler was the "queen bee" of a race of hybrid humans that was taking over the world, which is why he killed her at their Jackson Township home on Jan. 27, according to the report. He told police he thought he did the right thing by killing her, Northern York County Regional Police Detective Mark Baker testified.

John Ziegler called 911 just after 4 p.m. to announce that he had killed Diana, who was six months pregnant with the couple's second child, a daughter they had planned to name Charlotte.

Ziegler told a 911 dispatcher that he was waiting with his 2-year-old son for police to arrive to the scene in the 100 block of Ledge Drive. The child was not injured during the incident and released into the custody of York County Children, Youth and Families, according to police. Zeigler surrendered without incident to the first officer to arrive at the scene, police said.

Responding officers found Diana dead on the back deck of the couple's home in the 100 block of Ledge Drive, police said. She had suffered multiple blows to the head and neck from a scimitar-style sword, according to police. Investigators said they found blood and skull fragments on the deck.

District Judge Thomas Reilly ruled Ziegler will stand trial. His formal arraignment is set for April 21.

Ziegler is charged with homicide and homicide of an unborn child. He remains in York County Prison without bail.

A senior deputy prosecutor said a decision on whether the county would seek the death penalty would be made by Ziegler's arraignment.

Baker said during Friday's hearing that he interviewed John Ziegler for about an hour. He described the suspect as anxious and upset, the report said.

"He said multiple times that Diana didn't deserve it," Baker said.

He also said he had felt "off" for several months, Baker added.

Ziegler also said he believed he could change the weather by changing his emotions, Baker testified.

"His interview with me was really all over the place," Baker said, adding that Ziegler remembered what he had done and answered his questions coherently.

"He thought it was a big conspiracy," Baker testified. "He said he thought everything would change with the election of Donald Trump."