A Carthage man charged with his wife's murder pleaded insanity Thursday in Moore County Superior Court.

A suspect in another murder pleaded guilty to lesser offenses in exchange for testifying against his co-defendants.

Gale Lynn Frye, who is accused of killing his wife, is too insane to stand trial, his attorney, Robert Trenkle, told the court Thursday during a hearing on motions before Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James M. Webb.

Trenkle entered a motion to find Frye incapable of proceeding to trial because of a mental defect. Responding, Assistant District Attorney Peter Strickland said he had entered two motions on behalf of the state: one that he be sent to the central regional hospital for mental examination, and another for examination and evaluation of his mental state at the time of the offense.

Carthage police responded to a 911 call Feb. 12, 2010, from Frye, who asked EMS to come and "resuscitate" his wife. When paramedics reached the Frye residence at 396 Simpson Road in Carthage, they found Bertha Frye already dead.

Sgt. John R. Gibbons, of the Carthage Police Department, responded, with Lt. Rick T. Bickel assisting. There they found Bertha Douglas Frye, 76, in the bedroom. She was dead from a single gunshot wound to the head, authorities said.

After questioning him at the home and at the Sheriff's Office, police arrested Gale Frye and charged him with murder. He made a statement at the Sheriff's Office, which was videotaped.

After several hours of interrogation, Frye confessed to shooting his wife, according to Carthage Police Chief Chris McKenzie. Later, investigators brought Frye back home so he could do a walk-through to show detectives exactly what took place, McKenzie said.

Webb allowed all motions and ordered the case calendared for the morning administrative session of Superior Court on Sept. 8.

In the other case, Robert Anthony Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and to being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Sentencing is to be continued pending final resolution of cases against co-defendants in the murder of Charles Barrett on Feb. 3, 2010.

Disposition of his case depends on his truthful testimony in their trials. Boone's statements to investigators appeared most accurate, Strickland told the court.

Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@gmail.com.