A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

David Matusiewicz Pleads Not Guilty in Federal Court

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A former Delaware optometrist whose ex-wife was killed by his father at a Delaware courthouse has pleaded not guilty to federal conspiracy and stalking charges.

David Matusiewicz entered the plea Tuesday before a federal magistrate. He waived a hearing on a prosecution motion to detain him pending trial, and the judge ordered that he remain in custody.

Matusiewicz, his mother and his sister are charged with conspiring over several years to torment and stalk his ex-wife, Christine Belford, following a bitter divorce and custody battle. Belford and a friend were shot to death by Matusiewicz's father, Thomas, in February at the New Castle County courthouse before he turned the gun on himself.

Matusiewicz's mother and sister were arrested in Texas and are being returned to Delaware later this month.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.