Friends remember Lebanon mom Elizabeth "Nikki" Wilhoite

WRTV's Kayla Molander talks to friends of Nikki Wilhoite as they remember the friend and person she was. Wilhoite's husband has been preliminarily charged with her murder.

By: Kayla Molander

BOONE COUNTY — A friend and a mother of two and stepmom of one was remembered Saturday by friends hours after she was allegedly killed by her husband.

Elizabeth Wilhoite also went by Nikki. Her friends tell WRTV to know her was to love her and people were drawn to her.

“She was just fun. You could always count on her to have a funny story, or just to make you laugh," childhood friend Mary Smith said. “She could be friends with anybody, and she was just fun, she was fun to be around. Just a really devoted mom.”

On Monday, prosecutors filed a murder charge against her husband, Andrew Wilhoite, according to online court records.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Andrew told investigators he threw a gallon-size cement flowerpot at Elizabeth after she charged at him. They got into an argument, Andrew told investigators, after she got off the phone and confronted him about an affair.

After he threw the flowerpot at Elizabeth and she fell to the ground, he said he "didn't know what to do," put her body in his truck and dumped her in a nearby creek, according to the affidavit.

Andrew's jury trial is scheduled for August 29, according to online court records.

The Boone County Coroner ruled Nikki's death a homicide after her autopsy on Sunday. The exact of cause of death is still pending as the coroner's office waits on laboratory testing results.

"Why? What happened to just make him lose control?" Smith asked.

Friends say Nikki had just finished her last chemotherapy treatment. She had an infectious personality, a bright disposition and a smile that could light up the room.

"She's fighting to stay alive, to see her kids grow up. To have it end like this, it's just a tragedy that no one should have to go through. It just shouldn't be that way," Smith said.

Mental Health America of Boone County shared on Facebook that it is also mourning the loss of Nikki.

"We are saddened over the tragic nature of her passing. We know this can bring up many difficult emotions now, and in the days and weeks to come," the post read.

They offer mental health and domestic violence resources. For more information, call (765) 482-3020 x100 or reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Lebanon Community Schools said it is shocked and saddened by her death and is working with Mental Health America of Boone County and InWell to provide support for students.

WRTV Senior Digital Content Producer Andrew Smith contributed to this report.