PITTSBURGH — Authorities are continuing to investigate after a neurologist at UPMC died with what city homicide detectives are calling “toxic amounts of cyanide” in her system.
Dr. Autumn Marie Klein, 41, chief of women's neurology at UPMC and an assistant professor of neurology, gynecology, obstetrics and reproduction sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, died April 20 at UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland after collapsing at home three days earlier.
“The homicide unit is conducting a death investigation of a UPMC employee who died with toxic amounts of cyanide in her blood,” city police Lt. Kevin Kraus, acting commander of investigations, said on Wednesday. “At this time, the cause and manner of death are undetermined.”
Channel 11’s Alan Jennings reported Thursday afternoon that the homicide unit has conducted search warrants at Klein’s Lytton Street home, as well as a University of Pittsburgh lab.
Dr. Karl Williams, the Allegheny County medical examiner, said more tests are needed to determine how Klein died.
“At this point, the cause and manner of death remains under investigation,” Williams said. “This is a very complex investigation by our office and Pittsburgh police.”
Paramedics were called to the Oakland home Klein shared with her husband, Robert J. Ferrante, and daughter, Cianna, when she collapsed at 11:52 p.m. April 17, investigators said.
Jennings also confirmed through several sources that detectives have spoken with Ferrante.
Williams said police received their information about the level of cyanide in Klein's system from the hospital.
Autumn Klein's mother, Lois Klein of Towson, Md., said Wednesday evening that she was surprised to learn police were investigating her daughter's death.
“I had no idea,” Lois Klein said.
Klein said that neither she nor her husband, William, had any reason to be concerned about her daughter's safety.
She said she had no other comment until the couple has a chance to contact city homicide detectives.
Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, a former Allegheny County coroner, said his private forensic practice has been contacted to look into Klein's death. Wecht would not say who contacted him or when.
Ferrante, co-director of the Center for ALS Research at the University of Pittsburgh, could not be reached for comment.
Kraus would not say how police believe the cyanide got into Klein's system.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the extent of poisoning caused by cyanide depends, among other things, on the amount a person is exposed to and the length of exposure.
“Breathing cyanide gas causes the most harm, but ingesting (swallowing) cyanide can be toxic as well,” the CDC website states.
“Cyanide prevents the cells of the body from using oxygen,” according to the CDC. “Cyanide is more harmful to the heart and brain than to other organs because the heart and brain use a lot of oxygen.”
Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.
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