BUTLER, PA. Wife charged in castration case

Authorities said the victim's wife, a transsexual, indicated she had castrated herself several years ago.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BUTLER, Pa. -- Authorities said they do not believe Tammy Felbaum intended to kill her husband when she castrated him last month at the couple's home in Harrisville.
Pennsylvania State Police here said the 42-year-old woman told them 40-year-old James John Felbaum initiated the castration on himself and then asked his wife to help him finish what authorities have called "a very crude operation."
They said they found a letter "purported to be a note from the victim," that indicated the procedure had been performed with his approval.
However, pathologist Dr. Karl Williams of Ellwood City Hospital said it is "highly unlikely" Felbaum performed the procedure on himself.
Charges: On Tuesday, after a two-week investigation, authorities charged Tammy Felbaum with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and practicing medicine without a license.
She is being held in Cambria County Jail and was to have been arraigned Tuesday afternoon at Butler County Jail.
During a press conference at the state police station here, Butler County District Attorney Tim McCune said that because authorities believe there was no premeditation involved, it is likely Tammy Felbaum will be charged with involuntary manslaughter or third-degree murder, rather than first-degree murder.
If convicted of third-degree murder, she could be sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison, McCune said.
"We have no proof she planned to or set out to kill her husband," he said. "We don't believe it was premeditated."
What happened: Felbaum died Feb. 25 in United Community Hospital in Grove City. Authorities believe the castration, which involved the removal of Felbaum's testicles, took place Feb. 23. Tammy Felbaum, a transsexual, indicated she had castrated herself several years ago, they said.
Mercer County Coroner J. Bradley McGonigle III said Felbaum died of asphyxiation caused by aspiration of stomach contents into his lungs. He said the castration, combined with drug use, also contributed to the man's death.
Police said that on Feb. 25, Tammy Felbaum placed a 911 call from the couple's mobile home, which is just five miles east of Grove City. Troopers said they responded to what they believed to be a possible drug overdose.
They said paramedics tried to revive the man, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. On March 4, preliminary toxicology reports revealed Felbaum had a number of drugs, including pain killers, in his system, but not at levels high enough to kill him.
However, according to Dr. Williams, one drug in Felbaum's system -- oxycodone -- would have, along with the his pain, suppressed his gag reflex, causing his stomach contents to fill his lungs.
The scene: Authorities said upon arriving at the trailer, they discovered a large amount of brown fluid vomit coming from Felbaum's mouth. They said police and paramedics also noticed blood on Felbaum's nude body, but authorities didn't realize he had been castrated until an autopsy was performed March 5.
At that time, an investigation was initiated and authorities searched the couple's trailer, which had a telephone and electricity, but didn't appear to have running water or a functioning heating source.
Authorities discovered two rooms of the trailer had been converted into a makeshift laboratory, complete with examination table, two incubators, a defibrillator and several other pieces of medical equipment.
They removed formaldehyde and other chemicals used in taxidermy from the trailer. Also removed were two dogs, three birds and seven Siamese cats.
Police said they believe Tammy Felbaum has been involved in taxidermy. However, they have no indication she is a licensed taxidermist and believe she has no medical training.
Former spouses: In addition, police said, Tammy Felbaum has been married five times, and they plan to question her former spouses.
Police said they found several dead animals at the residence, and animal feces and urine were spread throughout the residence. They said the toilet didn't function and was filled with human feces and the bathroom shower was filled with pots and pans, some of which also contained human waste. Bloodied linen, including bedding, clothing and medical bandages, also was found in the home.