Grandmother seeks child support from cyanide doc


August 13, 2013 at 4:54p.m.

Grandmother seeks child support from cyanide doc

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The maternal grandmother of a 6-year-old girl is seeking child support from a University of Pittsburgh researcher jailed on charges he fatally poisoned his neurologist wife with cyanide.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today reported the court petition filed by Lois Klein, of Towson, Md., who last week was granted custody of the girl, Cianna Ferrante.

She’s the daughter of 64-year-old Dr. Robert Ferrante and his alleged victim, Dr. Autumn Klein, who died at age 41 in April.

The petition will be heard by an Allegheny County Family Court judge on Sept. 18.

Another judge had previously frozen Dr. Ferrante’s assets, except for a $280,000 bank account from which he may pay his legal expenses. The accounts were frozen in case Ferrante is convicted and ordered to pay restitution, or sued for damages in Klein’s death.