Wilmington Woman arrested in Connection to 2023 Dover Homicide
Dover, DE – A Wilmington woman has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following a complete examination by the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit into the death of her mother. The arrest, made on January 7, 2026, marks a meaningful development in the case stemming from an incident that occurred in June 2023.
Krista Rule, 46, of Wilmington, was taken into custody after a Kent County grand jury returned an indictment on January 6, 2026, charging her in connection with the death of 72-year-old Denise Wood.
On June 25,2023,troopers responded to a residence located on Case Ridge Road in the Wolf creek area of Dover. upon arrival, they discovered Ms. Wood deceased inside a bedroom. The subsequent investigation, led by the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit, determined that Ms. Wood’s death was a result of stab wounds.
As detectives progressed with the investigation, evidence led them to identify Rule as the primary suspect. Following her arrest, Rule was transported to delaware State Police Troop 2, where she was officially charged with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.
Rule was then arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $2.1 million cash bond.
The Delaware State Police have stated that the investigation remains ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
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