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Hastings Man Charged In Wife's Homicide Claims Innocence

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Robert Jufer, who was arrested in Hastings-on-Hudson Wednesday and is facing charges that he killed his wife in their Pennsylvania home two years ago, told reporters he was innocent.

Robert Jufer was arrested in Hastings-on-Hudson and extradited to Pennsylvania, where he had another home.

Robert Jufer was arrested in Hastings-on-Hudson and extradited to Pennsylvania, where he had another home.

Photo Credit: Westchester County

Police said Jufer, 71, shot his wife June Jufer to death in October 2010 at their home in Cherry Ridge Township.

Pennsylvania State Police arrested Jufer Wednesday in Hastings-on-Hudson, where he had been living. Jufer waived extradition in Westchester County Court and was taken back to Pennsylvania Thursday.

While walking into the Wayne County courthouse in Honesdale, Pa., Jufer answered questions from reporters from Scranton-Wilkes Barre television station Newswatch 16.

“Did you shoot your wife?” a reporter asked.

“No, I did not,” Jufer replied.

“Who do you think shot your wife?” the reporter asked.

“I have suspicions, but I’m not going to say anything,” said Jufer.

Pennsylvania State Police said they believe Jufer shot his wife in the head as she was sleeping in their home. Jufer told investigators he had just returned home and was attacked by intruders, who choked him with a rope until he blacked out.

Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards said the case has been high priority and that it took more than two years to investigate because there was a lot of evidence to go through. 

“The Pennsylvania State Police, for those 12 months, did everything I asked of them, in gathering evidence, helping me to review the interviews, look at what was done already, see what needed to be done,” Edwards said.

Edwards said in a statement there was no apparent motive for the homicide but that evidence points to Jufer as her killer.

“She was asleep when she was killed, or was in bed. Found dead. It’s clear that she was helpless if she’s found dead in her bed,” Edwards said.

Jufer is currently being held in the Wayne County Prison.

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