Julia Law Update: Prominent Phila. lawyer writes letter urging D.A. to end grand jury investigation of his girlfriend's death, report says
(CBS) PHILADELPHIA - A high-profile Philadelphia defense attorney whose girlfriend, Julia Law, was found dead in his bathtub in May has sent a letter to the district attorney's office urging them to end the grand jury investigation into her death, CBS Philly reports.
PICTURES: Grand jury probes death of Phila. lawyer's girlfriend
In a letter to District Attorney Seth Williams, Charles Peruto Jr. called for a "speedy conclusion" to the investigation, which he claims has hurt his reputation and his law firm and could cost him millions, Philly.com reports.
"I am a citizen of this county and the delay of any announcement of the findings that could be made in this case have damaged me so severely and incalculably that words cannot adequately describe what I am going through," Peruto wrote in the July 11 letter, according to the news website.
On May 25, Law, 26, was found dead, naked and face down in the bathtub in Peruto's Center City condo by a maintenance worker. Law had reportedly been dating Peruto, 58, and worked as a paralegal at his law firm.
Investigators initially reported no signs of foul play at the scene and Peruto was reportedly in Avalon, N.J. for the weekend and was not at home when Law was found.
CBS Philly reports that after the initial investigation and return of toxicology reports, which sources say showed a blood-alcohol level of what would be several times the legal limit for driving, the District Attorney sent the case to a grand jury in June to investigate the death.
Law enforcement officials have said they believe Law likely drowned in the tub, perhaps after a seizure.
"I have cooperated 100 percent on this matter from minute one," Peruto reportedly wrote in his letter. "Why hasn't someone simply told the public that the cause of death in this case was drowning and/or alcohol poisoning, and the manner of death is accidental?"
It is unclear whether Peruto received a response to his letter. A spokeswoman for the D.A. would not comment because the grand jury investigation is a secret process, CBS Philly reports.
Complete coverage of Julia Law on Crimesider
