ALBEMARLE, N.C. – A Stanly County District Judge refused today to lower the $500,000 bond set for Augusta’s Betty Neumar and set Aug. 11 for a probable cause hearing.

Prosecutors called the woman – whose five late husbands had met mysterious ends -- a flight risk and said other jurisdictions were ramping up their investigations into her past.

Defense lawyer Charles Parnell argued his client wasn't a flight risk and that the bond "is completely excessive. It's unheard of."

Mr. Parnell said Ms. Neumar has less than $1,000 in assets and no overseas bank accounts.

But Assistant District Attorney Tim Rodgers said she has used 28 aliases on passports, driver licenses and credit cards and is being investigated in other jurisdictions.