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Michael Hogue, 51, and his girlfriend 40-year-old Amanda Penny were arrested on charges of first-degree murder and possession of firearm by certain persons in connection with the death of her ex-husband, 41-year-old Kevin Nikel on Monday, Nov. 17, according to a news release from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office
Nikel, a former WWE wrestler, was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen in the area of Arkansas, 12, east of Rogers in Arkansas on July 11
Nikel and Penny finalized their divorce just days before the shooting
A woman and her boyfriend have been arrested in connection with the July death of her ex-husband, a former WWE wrestler.
Michael Hogue, 51, and 40-year-old Amanda Penny were each arrested on Monday, Nov. 17, on charges of first-degree murder and possession of firearm by certain persons in connection with the death of 41-year-old Kevin Nikel, according to a news release from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
Nikel was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen on July 11 in the Rogers, Ark., area, according to a Benton County Sheriff’s Office press release.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Nikel’s mother, Susan Kinderman, told 5NEWS  that family members “still don’t know exactly what happened when he got shot.”
Kinderman added, “The detectives have been pretty close lipped on that, which is good, but we’d still like to know exactly what happened and who did what.”
Nikel and Penny were high school sweethearts, Kinderman told the outlet. The couple finalized their divorce just days before the shooting, she said, per 5News.
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Benton County Sheriff’s Office
Amanda Penny; Michael Hogue
According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, citing court records, the former couple’s divorce was granted on July 8.
Penny and Hogue are romantically involved, per court documents, the Democrat Gazette reported.
At a bond hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Penny’s public defender told a judge that Penny is seven months pregnant and under the care of a doctor, according to the Democrat Gazette.
Nikel wrestled in WWE NXT under the name Knuckles Madsen from 2012 to 2013.
Nikel founded the Ozark Wrestling Academy and the Ozark Mountain Wrestling promotion, according to his obituary.
Hogue is being held on a $750,000 bond. Penny is being held on a $500,000 bond, per the Democrat Gazette.
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