AKRON, Ohio (August 7, 2012)—John Wise, an Ohio man arrested in the alleged mercy killing of his wife, seemed perplexed at the charge Tuesday, asking a judge whether his wife was indeed dead.

Wise appeared before an Akron municipal court judge via video from jail Tuesday morning on an aggravated attempted murder charge.

His bond was set at $1 million.

Wise, 66, is charged with shooting his wife of 45 years at her intensive care unit bedside Saturday.

She died the next morning.

The attempted murder charge could be upgraded after an autopsy is completed, but Wise was evidently confused about the attempted murder charge Tuesday, asking, "Is she not dead?"

The judge didn't answer his question, but said he would soon have an attorney who could.