Tru TV to spotlight Chiavetta insulin murder case

Tru TV, formerly Court TV, will profile the Linn County case of Kim Chiavetta at 9 p.m. Friday (July 16).

Chiavetta, who lived in Robins,  was convicted of second-degree murder in the insulin poisoning death of her husband in 2004.

Former Gazette courts reporter Elizabeth Kutter, who is now retired, was interviewed for the “Forensic Files” program.

Chiavetta was 38 years old when she was sentenced to 50 years in prison. She was sentenced to an additional five years, to be served after the main sentence, for administering a harmful substance (insulin).

Prosecutors said Chiavetta intentionally injected her 60-year-old husband, Frank Chiavetta, with a lethal amount of insulin on July 8, 2004. He died three days later.

Chiavetta's attorneys argued that she had committed involuntary manslaughter when she injected her non-diabetic husband with insulin to help him rest.

Prosecutors had argued that Chiavetta, a registered nurse, planned ahead and gathered supplies for days or weeks before she twice intentionally injected her sleeping husband with insulin that put him into a coma.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Nov. 17, 2005 --

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Nov. 17, 2005 -- Chiavetta sentenced to up to 55 years for murdering husband