Princeton dentist arraigned in wife's 2011 death

PRINCETON, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A dentist indicted last month in the 2011 death of his wife pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Worcester Superior Court.

Roger Desilets Jr. was freed on $5,000 bail following his court appearance Thursday.

A Worcester County Grand Jury indicted the 69-year-old on manslaughter and assault and battery charges on Dec. 13 in the death of his wife, Kathleen Desilets.

Kathleen Desilets was found underneath a broken third floor window at the couple's Princeton mansion. Autopsy results show she died of blunt trauma of the torso, a laceration of heart, broken ribs and a broken spine.

According to the Telegram, court documents say the couple had an argument over Dr. Desilets' extramarital affair. The 69-year-old claimed he and his wife made up after a physical altercation ensued, but they had another argument after he made an "off-color" comment. Dr. Desilets claims he later found his wife smashing a window with a chair and she then fell through it, either on purpose or accidentally as a result of the momentum.

Desilets' attorney previously told FOX 25 there is no evidence to support the allegations made against his client.

"It's my understanding that the Commonwealth's theory of the case is that they were embroiled in some sort of fight and she was either rendered unconscious and thrown out the window or Dr. Desilets pushed her out the window. There is no evidence to support either of those two theories," said Attorney Edward Ryan.

Desilets is due back in court Feb. 5.

Cox Media Group