Husband Of Doctor Poisoned By Cyanide Hires Defense Lawyer
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- There are new details on the cyanide poisoning death of a local doctor.
Dr. Autumn Marie Klein is described as a brilliant doctor, a visionary. The 41-year-old mother of a 6-year-old daughter died on April 20. Police say she ingested toxic amounts of cyanide.
KDKA's Marty Griffin: "Doctor, Marty Griffin from KDKA, sir. Can I talk to you about your wife?"
KDKA tried to talk with Dr. Robert Ferrante about his wife's death two weeks ago. He had nothing to say.
Now, he's hired criminal defense lawyer Bill Difenderfer.
"He has retained me," says Difenderfer.
Dr. Ferrante - a professor at the University of Pittsburgh - has not talked to police detectives, but called 911 the night of his wife's death, telling 911 dispatchers it appeared she had a stroke.
Police have removed cyanide from a lab at Pitt where Dr. Ferrante works. They also traveled to Boston and Baltimore to speak with family and friends about the couple.
Sources confirm this is now a homicide investigation.
Difenderfer: "We don't even know if he's going to be charged with anything at this point. Hopefully, he won't be."
Griffin: "But he has been described as a suspect?"
Difenderfer: "Well, you know, you know that."
Griffin: "Your client is a suspect in this case?"
Difenderfer: "I'm sure, what do they call that, person of interest or suspect. Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt about that."
Pittsburgh Police and the FBI removed a significant amount of evidence from the couple's home. In that evidence there was what are described as a number of emails that may have relevance in the case.
Difenderfer says he will begin to investigate the case, hire investigators and bring in experts in order to prepare for a possible case.
RELATED LINKS:
Homicide Detectives Investigating UPMC Doctor's Death From Cyanide Poisoning (5/1/13)
UPMC Doctor Poisoned With Cyanide, FBI Helping With Investigation (5/3/13)
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