An Augusta widow accused of soliciting help to kill her husband will be sent back to authorities in North Carolina.

Betty Neumar chose not to fight extradition to Albemarle, N.C., during a hearing at the Richmond County jail Wednesday, according to Richmond County Magistrate Judge John Baxter.

"She will be heading back to North Carolina," Judge Baxter said as jailers led Ms. Neumar away.

Ms. Neumar was arrested at her home on Cambridge Court last week on charges stemming from the 1986 slaying of then-husband Thomas Harold Gentry. Acting on an unspecified tip, North Carolina investigators from the Stanly County Sheriff's Office traveled to Augusta and joined Richmond County sheriff's deputies in making her arrest.

Since then, local authorities have begun to investigate the death of her most recent husband, John E. Neumar, 79, who died in October at the Downtown Division of the Augusta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. He is one of five husbands of Ms. Neumar who have died.

The coroner's office did not examine Mr. Neumar's body after his death because he died in a hospital under a doctor's care. Family members said Mr. Neumar died of sepsis, an illness that is caused by bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic infections of the bloodstream or tissues. Secondary causes included ischemic bowel, or an injury to the large intestine caused by inadequate blood supply, and ileus, a disruption of the digestive system.

Sheriff's Lt. Bill Reeves said his office has notified the Stanly County Sheriff's Office, and Ms. Neumar will be taken back to North Carolina at its discretion.

The Chronicle broke the news of Ms. Neumar's extradition, posting it online at 1:58 p.m. Wednesday.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.