By BRAD DICKERSON
Highlands Today
Published: March 18, 2010
SEBRING - A Highlands County grand jury formally indicted 68-year-old Ruth Musial for first-degree murder in connection with the late February death of her husband.
The indictment was handed down Tuesday and stated Musial, "did unlawfully from a premeditated design to effect the death of a human being, kill and murder Gerald Joseph Musial, a human being, by asphyxiation and/or narcotic intoxication."
Ruth Musial will be formally arraigned on March 29.
The body of Gerald Musial, 62, was found inside the couple's Tanglewood home, located at 1010 Carefree Parkway, on Feb. 26.
Letters reportedly found inside the home gave a detailed account and time frame of the murder, stating that Ruth Musial put a large dose of the drug Clonazepam - used to control seizures and treat panic disorders - into her husband's food without his knowledge.
The medication "incapacitated" Gerald Musical and the suspect taped his hands and feet together, according to court records. When the victim tried to defend himself, Ruth Musial allegedly put a plastic bag over his head and killed him.
One of the letters reportedly ended with, "good riddance Jerry."
Ruth Musial's arrest report stated the incident was related to domestic violence.
Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said victims of domestic violence have a right to defend themselves from an imminent threat, but not the right to retaliate for past acts of violence.
"There's always a right to self-defense, if it's truly necessary and legitimate," he said.
Parker case continued
The case against former Avon Park police officer James Parker - accused of killing his former girlfriend's young daughter - was continued until June 17 at 8:30 a.m.
Parker, 33, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of 22-month old Kaedyn Short, who died in May 2009.
The defense told Judge Peter Estrada on Thursday that discovery was ongoing, and depositions were scheduled for May 3 and 4.
No trial date has been set. The state attorney's office is not seeking the death penalty.
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