Frazer woman sentenced to at least 6 years in prison for killing husband

A Frazer woman was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for fatally shooting her husband after a drunken argument involving money, sex and a burned tuna casserole more than two years ago.

Teresa M. Drum, 40, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of her husband, Dennis Edward Drum Sr., 42, following a nonjury trial in March.

On Wednesday, Allegheny County Judge Jill Rangos ordered her to serve six to 15 years in prison.

Dennis Drum was shot once in the head Feb. 27, 2017, in the couple’s home.

The couple had two children. A son died last June.

A close friend of Teresa Drum testified at the trial that she overheard Teresa Drum and her husband on the phone frequently exchanging threats and arguing bitterly about money and bad cooking.

She said Teresa Drum sent her a Facebook photo of her husband’s dead body on the night of the shooting.

After the Facebook photo was sent, Drum took a shower. Only then did she call 911.

Following the testimony, Rangos concluded the Drums were drinking heavily, “saying vile and vulgar things to each other” and making violent threats.

Drum’s attorney, Lisa G. Middleman, argued that Drum was defending herself. She said Drum and her husband struggled over his pistol after he pointed it at her head.

But prosecutors highlighted inconsistencies in Drum’s statements to police after the shooting and accused her of trying to make the death look like a suicide.

When Frazer police arrived at the home, a semiautomatic pistol was in Drum’s hand. The Facebook photo didn’t show a pistol in his hand.

County detectives filed a tampering with evidence charge against Drum. Rangos ruled not guilty on that charge because there wasn’t clear evidence.