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Ferrante denies mixing wife's Creatine: ‘She took charge of her own medicine'

UPDATE: The jury is now deliberating. CLICK HERE for the latest information.

A University of Pittsburgh medical researcher took the witness stand Wednesday to deny that he purchased cyanide at his lab so he could later use it to poison his wife as prosecutors allege.

Dr. Robert Ferrante, 66, was called to testify Wednesday at his criminal homicide trial. Allegheny County prosecutors contend Ferrante laced his wife's energy drink with the poison to kill her in April, 2013.

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Ferrante denied the charge. He also explained several searches found on his computer that relate to cyanide poisoning or its detection by a coroner. Prosecutors suggest the computer searches prove he planned the death of 41-year-old Dr. Autumn Klein.

“I went online to research cyanide as an option to 3-NP,” Ferrante said.

Ferrante contends his wife simply collapsed after giving him a peck on the cheek and saying, "love you" and that she hadn't just drank the deadly mixture that prosecutors claim he prepared.

“She took charge of her own medicine,” Ferrante said when he was asked if he mixed his wife’s Creatine.

Channel 11's Alan Jennings reported Ferrante was also asked if he was having trouble with his marriage.

“Yes. My wife was very concerned about having another child,” he said. “It disturbed her to see pregnant women at work and she got really depressed.”

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Earlier on Wednesday, world-renowned pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht said Klein did not die of cyanide poisoning, however her exact cause of death remains "undetermined."

Wecht took the stand for 12 minutes, telling jurors that he is “intellectually stuck” on Klein’s exact cause of death.

Jennings was in court for the testimony and said jurors were riveted by Wecht’s testimony, hanging on every word he said.

Wecht stated he has problems with the disparity in the cyanide testing, saying that the levels reported in one report should have, “killed her instantly. It’s a drop-dead affect.”

“The reports are highly conflicting, completely inconsistent,” Wecht told Channel 11 of the reports. “For me, functioning as a forensic pathologist, what do I do? How do I handle that case? One case shows a level that could indeed produce death of cyanide poisoning. The other level is within normal range from a top-notch laboratory.”

He also criticized the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office for not conducting more testing, and for not allowing CORE to use Klein’s organs.

Wecht told jurors that Klein had "abnormal heart arteries, a congenital heart defect," but stopped short of saying those problem contributed to her death.

"Dr. Klein had some medical problem. She had been complaining of headaches and migraines noted by friends,” said Wecht.

It’s important to note that Wecht did not conduct testing on Klein’s body, but did review all of her medical reports, Jennings reported.

Wecht has consulted on the deaths of JonBenet Ramsey and Elvis Presley. He gained fame as a critic of the Warren Commission's report on President Kennedy's assassination.

The defense rested late Wednesday afternoon and the jury was sent home.

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Closing arguments will be held Thursday morning.

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Channel 11's Alan Jennings will remain inside the courtroom for the duration of this trial. Watch for continuing coverage on Channel 11 News and right here on wpxi.com. 

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