Watch CBS News

Pitt Researcher Arrested In Poisoning Of Former Boston Doctor

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A University of Pittsburgh medical researcher accused of poisoning his neurologist wife has been arrested in West Virginia on a criminal homicide charge.

A police complaint says Dr. Robert Ferrante laced an energy supplement with cyanide before giving it to medical school neurologist Dr. Autumn Klein hours after they exchanged text messages about how the supplement could help them conceive a child.

Related: Husband Ordered Cyanide Before Wife's Death

Allegheny County district attorney's office spokesman Mike Manko says Ferrante was arrested near Beckley, W.Va., by state police.

Defense attorney William Difenderfer has said Ferrante denies involvement in his wife's death. He hasn't responded to a request for comment on Thursday's arrest.

Police had traveled to St. Augustine, Fla., to look for Ferrante, a leading researcher on Lou Gehrig's disease.

Ferrante and Klein met at a VA hospital in Bedford, Mass.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.