A case of domestic bliss

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She was innocent all along -- her actions were just how she dealt with grief.

More info here: Another comment - Cynthia Sommer





Meet Ms. Cynthia Sommer: From the LA Times:

Extradition Sought in Man's Death
Prosecutors are seeking the extradition of a woman in Florida accused of poisoning her husband — a Marine sergeant — and then using his life insurance to pay for breast enhancement and a libertine lifestyle.

Cynthia Sommer, 32, moved to Florida from San Diego in 2002 with a new boyfriend, an ex-Marine, just weeks after an autopsy performed by a military pathologist found that her husband had died of a heart attack.

Further toxicology tests determined that Sgt. Todd Sommer, 23, had died of acute arsenic poisoning. The tests were ordered by the military and confirmed by civilian experts.

Todd Sommer was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar when he died Feb. 18, 2002, after complaining of nausea for several days.

Dang -- kinda throws a harsh on that mellow... The Deputy District Attorney's comments:

"This is the coldest homicide I've had, in terms of being absolutely coldblooded," Deputy Dist. Atty. Laura Gunn said.

A bit more:

Sommer, being held in a West Palm Beach jail, is resisting the extradition attempt. A hearing is set for today.

San Diego prosecutors have filed for special circumstances — murder by poisoning — which could lead to the death penalty, if Sommer is convicted.

Court documents filed by prosecutors allege that Sommer was eager to get her husband's life insurance of more than $250,000 and the monthly survivor payments of nearly $1,900. The couple had a son and she had three other children from a previous marriage.

In an interview conducted by Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents, Sommer said her husband had been nauseated and vomiting for a week before his death. Sommer's "close proximity to the victim allowed for the type of access required to facilitate acute arsenic poisoning," an investigator wrote.

Sommer's neighbor on the Miramar base told the investigators that after Todd Sommer's death, his wife threw a series of loud parties and showed the results of her breast augmentation, which had cost $5,400.

"Cindy's excuse for the lifestyle she started living after [her husband's death] was that he was very strict. He didn't like for her to go out partying [or] staying out with her friends," a family friend told investigators.

"Todd also didn't want her to get her breasts enlarged, so I think that she was living out the fantasy life that she really wanted," the friend said, according to court documents.

Sommer also paid to have her name listed on an Internet service that provides an "adult dating community focused on sexual discovery."

Court documents portray Sommer as a dissatisfied employee of a sandwich shop, heavily in debt and unhappy with having to care for four children. Before moving to San Diego, she was investigated by child welfare workers in North Carolina in 2001.

After her breast surgery, Sommer began a relationship with another Marine, Ross Ritter, who was later discharged from the Marine Corps. Sommer had her furniture shipped to his home in Florida at government expense, court records show.

The same day that she was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, Ritter was taken into custody on an unrelated drug charge.

There does not appear to be a connection between Ritter and Todd Sommer's death, and no further indictments are expected in the case, Gunn said.

The two emphases are mine -- "heavily in debt" and "unhappy with having to care for four children" These speak volumes -- someone who always got by on her "looks" and never bothered to grow up. The life of the party but not someone you would want to take home - - - to live with. As she started to get older, the feral urges within started to gain power. She will claim insanity and might get away with life behind bars (although the two jurisdictions are Florida and California so there is hope!) Also, Arsenic is probably one of the most stupid poisons to use. It stays with the body forever and shows up in hair, bone and fingernails and can be detected with a simple chemical test. It also causes great agony to its victims and for this woman to live with this poor guy while she was poisoning him and for her to not feel something boggles the mind. I know the perfect place for her -- Tookie emailed^* complaining that there aren't any women where he is now, just dead and rotting Thai tranny heroin victims. ^*Did not realize that Hell had Internet Cafes. I thought it was just thugs and lawyers down there -- tech support too? Sheesh -- go figure... Posted by DaveH at January 4, 2006 11:40 PM