Pitt Professor Arrested for Poisoning Wife (Pittsburgh: neighborhoods, to buy, living)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Benzman66

Here it is Hopes;

http://ae3b703522cf9ac6c40a-32964bea...t-ferrante.pdf

Thanks you. That's quite a read. I can't even imagine his defense.

On another note, it blows my mind the coroners office released the body to the funeral home prior to receiving the blood work results.

[Hopes]

Here is a very detailed article that provides much more information than other articles, all of which is in the police report.

Robert Ferrante, Researcher, Accused Of Poisoning His Wife

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Thanks you. That's quite a read. I can't even imagine his defense.

On another note, it blows my mind the coroners office released the body to the funeral home prior to receiving the blood work results.

I wondered about that as well.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Copanut

I wondered about that as well.

I think it's super common. The same thing happened when my sister died. The coroner's office released the body to the funeral home and it was cremated during an ongoing police investigation. The lab results that came back weeks later and were normal, but if they hadn't been normal there was no body to reexamine. Furthermore there was no body to have a private second autopsy performed, which is something my siblings and I wanted. It should be routine policy that bodies shouldn't be cremated until all lab results are back. They should also prohibit cremation when they can't definitively determine cause of death. The bodies should be released to the funeral homes with the strict stipulation that only burial is permitted. Laws/standards should be changed to prevent this.

[greg42]

The thing I've found myself wondering after reading the police report is why in fact it was so easy to request cyanide overnight when it was unrelated to his work. Seems like that might need a little bit more procedural oversight.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by greg42

The thing I've found myself wondering after reading the police report is why in fact it was so easy to request cyanide overnight when it was unrelated to his work. Seems like that might need a little bit more procedural oversight.

Good point. Her parents might sue Pitt on her daughter's behalf.

But one way or another he could have poisoned her with things more readily available to the general public.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I think it's super common. The same thing happened when my sister died. The coroner's office released the body to the funeral home and it was cremated during an ongoing police investigation. The lab results that came back weeks later and were normal, but if they hadn't been normal there was no body to reexamine. Furthermore there was no body to have a private second autopsy performed, which is something my siblings and I wanted. It should be routine policy that bodies shouldn't be cremated until all lab results are back. They should also prohibit cremation when they can't definitively determine cause of death. The bodies should be released to the funeral homes with the strict stipulation that only burial is permitted. Laws/standards should be changed to prevent this.

My Mom passed away at home at the age of 82. Thankfully for us, the local funeral director stepped in and avoided an autopsy. It was a natural death, and my sister was in shock. But when a 40 something woman passes, I think you have to look a little harder.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Copanut

My Mom passed away at home at the age of 82. Thankfully for us, the local funeral director stepped in and avoided an autopsy. It was a natural death, and my sister was in shock. But when a 40 something woman passes, I think you have to look a little harder.

We did that when my dad died at home. His doctor signed off on his cause of death.

ETA: My sister was 38.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Hopes

We did that when my dad died at home. His doctor signed off on his cause of death.

ETA: My sister was 38.

Sorry to hear that, way, way, too young.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Good point. Her parents might sue Pitt on her daughter's behalf.

Do parents have legal standing to sue in a case like this, i.e., one in which the deceased daughter was married?