Husband Accused In Wife's Poisoning Pleads Not Guilty
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- University of Pittsburgh medical researcher Dr. Robert Ferrante has arrived back in Pittsburgh from West Virginia, where he was arrested last week.
According to the Associated Press, he pleaded not guilty to criminal homicide charges in court this afternoon.
Ferrante was escorted back to the city this morning by Pittsburgh detectives. They pulled into the Allegheny County Jail in a silver car around 9:30 a.m.
He was brought back to town in order to face charges in the cyanide poisoning death of his wife, Dr. Autumn Klein.
Watch Marty Griffin's report:
Ferrante did not fight extradition, agreeing to willingly come back to Pittsburgh to face a murder charge for his wife's death.
Judge: "Do you still wish to waive extradition, and voluntarily return to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?"
Ferrante: "Yes sir."
Months after Klein - a UPMC neurologist - died from a lethal dose of cyanide, Pittsburgh Police charged Ferrante with criminal homicide.
Police say he ordered a half pound of cyanide two days before his wife collapsed in their home in Oakland.
Their marriage - possibly on the rocks - and accusations of Klein having an affair, police allege that Ferrante tricked Klein into taking the cyanide by telling her that it was Creatine, informing her allegedly that it would help her fertility.
Ferrante had been in the Southern Regional Jail in West Virginia since Thursday after being stopped by a state trooper during a traffic stop. Ferrante's attorney says his client was in Florida and was attempting to drive back to Pittsburgh, after the warrant was issued, when he was pulled over.
He was arraigned at 2 p.m. in front of Judge David Cashman.
According to the AP, a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 23 and Ferrante remains in jail without bond.
RELATED LINKS:
Doctor Accused Of Poisoning Wife Waives Extradition (7/29/13)
DA's Affidavit Lays Out Case Against Husband Accused In Cyanide Poisoning (7/26/13)
Husband Arrested, Charged In Doctor's Cyanide Poisoning Death (7/25/13)
More reports on this case
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