Pittsburgh researcher sentenced to life in prison, no parole for wife's cyanide killing

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PITTSBURGH — A former University of Pittsburgh Medical Center researcher was sentenced Wednesday to a mandatory term of life in prison without possibility of parole in the cyanide poisoning death of his neurologist wife.

Robert Ferrante, 66, was convicted in November of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said he laced 41-year-old Dr. Autumn Klein's energy drink with cyanide in April 2013.

The victim's mother, Lois Klein, said in an impact statement read in court Wednesday by a prosecutor that the murder had robbed her and her husband of their only child.

"The light of our lives has now been extinguished," she said in the statement.

Lois Klein and her husband, William, are caring for Ferrante and Autumn Klein's 8-year-old daughter.

Lois Klein's impact statement went on to say, "I certainly don't want to give him any credit but he has certainly ruined our lives. All she ever wanted to do was to be able to help people. People all over the world are now losers."

Following Ferrante's sentencing, Lois Klein and her husband, William, released the following statement:

"We would once again like to thank the Pittsburgh police, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, the Center for Victims, the members of the jury and others who have helped us achieve justice for our daughter and who helped to shepherd us through the past two years.

"It is our hope that we can use all of the wonderful memories of Autumn and all that she accomplished to help us move forward in our own lives."

Ferrante declined an opportunity to speak in court Wednesday. He has steadfastly denied poisoning Klein by putting cyanide he acknowledged ordering for his research laboratory into a creatine energy drink at their home late one night. She immediately collapsed and died three days later, authorities said.

Prosecutors showed the jury text messages in which Ferrante told Klein the drink might help her ovulate and conceive a second child, which witnesses said Klein was obsessed with having.

Prosecutors said Ferrante was outwardly supportive of having another child but actually disliked the idea and feared Klein might divorce him.

Ferrante, a prominent researcher into Lou Gehrig's disease, testified he bought the poison only because he used it to mimic the disease's effects on healthy cells in his laboratory. He also testified that he didn't greet Klein at the couple's back door and hand her the energy drink the night she fell suddenly ill, even though police detectives said Ferrante told them that's what happened when they first interviewed him.

Jurors indicated that and other evidence prompted them to reject his denials and convict him.

Ferrante’s defense attorney, Bill Difenderfer, said he plans to appeal, claiming prosecutors didn’t prove that Ferrante actually gave his wife the cyanide.

"Hopefully, we'll get the attention of superior court and have this thing reversed and get a new trial,” said Difenderfer.

Meanwhile, Lois Klein’s lawyer has filed a wrongful death suit against Ferrante and is seeking to establish a trust fund for Ferrante and Autumn Klein's daughter.

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