Alleged Newport Coast Wife-Killer Released from Jail

A man accused of killing his 46-year-old wife in their Newport Coast home and dumping her body in San Diego County was released from jail early Wednesday after prosecutors dropped a murder-for-financial-gain charge, court records show.

Peter Chadwick, 48, was facing a special circumstance allegation that he killed his wife, Quee "Q.C" Chadwick, for financial gain. Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy dismissed that charge Tuesday after saying he does not have enough evidence to prove the charge. Chadwick is still facing a murder charge, but is no longer eligible for the death penalty, so his bail was reduced to $1 million.

Jail records show he posted bail at 1:47 a.m.

"He's got a lot of money, and people with a lot of money can get bail,” Murphy told Patch.

On Oct. 10, friends of the Chadwicks alerted police after the couple's three children were left at school with no ride home. The next day, Peter Chadwick reportedly called police in San Diego and was later arrested.

The body of Quee Chadwick was found a week after she went missing in a Dumpster by a passer-by in the 1200 block of Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. The San Diego Medical Examiner's Office said she was strangled to death.

Court records show the couple had been discussing divorce.

Do you think Peter Chadwick should have been released from jail? Tell us in the comments.