Death of husband interests officers

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of an Augusta man whose widow is charged with hiring a killer to shoot a previous husband.

Sheriff's Maj. Ken Autry confirmed Tuesday that his department is "looking into" the death of John E. Neumar, of Augusta, one of the five dead husbands of 76-year-old Betty Neumar.

Mr. Neumar, 79, died in October at the Downtown Division of the Augusta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Family members said his cause of death was listed as sepsis -- an illness often afflicting the elderly, caused by bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic infections of the bloodstream or tissues. Secondary causes were ischemic bowel, defined as injury to the large intestine caused by inadequate blood supply, and ileus, a disruption of the digestive system.

Because he died in a hospital under a doctor's care, the coroner's office did not examine the body.

Ms. Neumar was arrested by authorities May 21 on charges of solicitation to commit murder. The arrest came 22 years after her former husband Thomas Harold Gentry was found shot to death inside the couple's home in Norwood, N.C., about 45 miles east of Charlotte.

After the arrest and revelations of three other dead spouses, Maj. Autry said, the department decided to check into Mr. Neumar's death.

"After the accusation about the other husband, you would see how we would be at least suspicious," Maj. Autry said. "So I think we would have to take a second look at it."

Sheriff's Lt. Scott Peebles said investigators have begun interviewing family members and friends of Mr. Neumar.

"There's all kinds of things we have to do, and it's going to be lengthy, I'm sure," Lt. Peebles said.

Mr. Neumar's son and daughter-in-law recently said they had questions about his death. They told The Augusta Chronicle last week that his widow had the body cremated before his children and grandchildren knew he had died.

Reach Adam Folk and Johnny Edwards at (706) 724-0851.