Delaware man charged in presumed death of wife

A Smyrna man is behind bars, accused of killing his wife with a hammer in front of their two children.

A Kent County Grand Jury handed down an indictment against Cortez Hamilton earlier this week. The 32-year-old is now charged with first degree murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. 

The upgraded murder charge follows an investigation by Delaware State Police. Wife Keisha Hamilton, who has been missing since Jan. 10, has still not been found, but prosecutors believe there is sufficient evidence to bring the murder charge.

According to the indictment, Hamilton “did knowingly and unlawfully possess a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony by possessing a hammer, a deadly weapon, during the commission of murder,” some time between Jan. 9 and 10.

When DSP could not locate the couple’s two children, police issued an Amber Alert. Both were found, unharmed, on Jan. 10 with their father in Indiana where he was initially arrested. 

Hamilton was extradited back to Delaware nearly two weeks later. He remains in custody at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $402,000 cash bond.