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Investigators Seek Info On Cyanide Death From Newspaper

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A new development in the case of a local researcher accused in the poisoning death of his wife.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that investigators are now seeking information in the case from the newspaper.

Dr. Robert Ferrante pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Tuesday. His wife, Dr. Autumn Klein, died of cyanide poisoning in April.

Police say he ordered a half pound of cyanide two days before his wife collapsed in their home in Oakland.

The Post-Gazette reports that the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office got a search warrant to learn the IP address and other information for the times someone "...identified as Robert J. Ferrante and/or identified through the submitted email address of bitteralmonds@gmail.com" tried to send a link to a Post-Gazette story.

The report, according to the newspaper, was the paper's first in which it reported that Dr. Autumn Klein had died with toxic levels of cyanide in her body.

Experts say a smell of bitter or burnt almonds can tip off some doctors to cyanide in a patient.

"About two-thirds of people have the olfactory ability to detect the odor the burned or burning almonds characteristic of cyanide - not everyone can do that," said Dr. Cyril Wecht, a noted forensic pathologist.

A spokesperson from the district attorney's office says they have no comment on warrant.

Ferrante's defense attorney, William Difenderfer, said of his client: "He's devastated by losing his wife. He's double devastated by the fact that he's being accused of being the cause, so it's been very rough for him."

RELATED LINKS
Husband Accused In Wife's Poisoning Pleads Not Guilty
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)
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