Marine Arrested in Shooting of Police Officer Wife on Christmas Eve

Dec. 27, 2012 &#151 -- A decorated Marine has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of his police officer wife while she was on patrol during Christmas eve, officials said today.

The body of Officer Jennifer Sebena, 30, was found by fellow officers of the Wauwatosa, Wisc., police department after she failed to respond to radio calls. She was shot several times, police said.

Authorities released little information on her killing, but said that her husband, Benjamin Sebena, is in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail. He is being held on a tentative charge of first-degree intentional homicide, but has not been formally charged, officials said.

"He is in custody, and we're waiting on paperwork to be brought down to this office," said Mia Williams, clerical assistant at Milwaukee's District Attorney's Office.

Ben Sebena is a "decorated U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq before suffering severe arm and leg injuries in a mortar attack," according to the Associated Press.

Officer Sebena had served on the force for two years.

"She was a devoted, intelligent and highly-skilled professional who served our community with kindness, care and concern," Wauwatosa Police Department said in a statement. "It is the first time in the 96-year history of the Wauwatosa Police Department we have lost an officer on-duty."

Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.