KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A husband is accused of pushing his ill wife off the balcony of their apartment building.

Cristie Reimer, 47, was found dead on the sidewalk Tuesday night after a fall from her fourth-floor apartment in the 4900 block of Wornall Road.

Her husband, 51-year-old Stanley Reimer, was charged with second-degree murder. On Thursday, he pleaded not guilty in federal court.

Police said he kissed his wife and then pushed her off the balcony.

According to court documents, Stanley Reimer told police he was having financial difficulties because of his wife's medical condition. He also told police he walked his wife to the balcony Tuesday night, kissed her, picked her up and threw her off.

Detectives said caregivers for the wife said she would have been physically unable to climb over the balcony railing.

At the time of her death, Cristie Reimer was partially blind and weighed 75 pounds. Her medical bills were nearly $1,000 each week and she did not have health insurance.

Online message boards show that Cristie Reimer's health problems began at an early age with knee surgeries and neurological diseases.

Neighbors said they had heard the couple fighting during the past year.

Stanley Reimer is being held on $250,000 cash bond.