ABERDEEN — A man from this Bingham County town is facing up to life in prison or possibly even the death penalty for allegedly killing his wife.

The Bingham County Sheriff's Office reports that Eugene R. Ruff, age 63, has been charged with first-degree murder after law enforcement officers found his wife, Bettilee P. Ruff, age 62, dead at the couple's Aberdeen home. 

First-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison but prosecutors also have the option of seeking the death penalty. 

Bingham County authorities haven't yet commented on whether they'll seek the death penalty against Eugene Ruff. 

The incident began to unfold around 9:50 p.m. Thursday when the Bingham County Sheriff's Office dispatch center received a call that prompted sheriff's deputies and Aberdeen police to respond to the Ruffs' residence at 3200 West 2202 South in Aberdeen, authorities said.

The responding law enforcement officers determined that Bettilee Ruff was deceased. The officers then made contact with Eugene Ruff and "determined that he had killed his wife," according to a Bingham County Sheriff's Office press release. 

Officers arrested Eugene Ruff without incident at his residence and he was booked into Bingham County Jail.

Authorities said they're waiting to confirm Bettilee Ruff's cause of death until an autopsy can be done on her body. 

Detectives from the Blackfoot police/Bingham County Sheriff's Office joint detective division are continuing to investigate the murder and additional information will likely be released soon.

Stay with idahostatejournal.com for updates on this story.