German-Born Man Charged With Killing Wife In D.C.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A German-born man has been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of his 91-year-old socialite wife in Washington.
Albrecht Muth, 47, was indicted Tuesday in the death of Viola Drath, a German journalist and socialite. Authorities say she was found beaten and strangled at her home last August.
A conviction on the charge carries a possible sentence of life without parole.
Police had initially charged Muth with second-degree murder, but that charge was upgraded in a grand jury indictment accusing him of acting with premeditation and malice.
Muth was transferred to a psychiatric hospital, and a judge will have to decide whether he is competent to stand trial. He awaits a scheduled appearance next week in D.C. Superior Court.
Muth has said he is innocent.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
