Woman charged in death of Oklahoma widower she met in June

CORDELL, Okla. (AP) – Oklahoma prosecutors have charged a woman in the shooting death of a widower who let her move in after they met through Craigslist following the death of his wife of nearly 40 years.

Forty-four-year-old Kathryn Hicks has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 59-year-old Michael Beach, who was found dead Nov. 30 in his Cordell home.

Hicks’ attorney, Mike Housley, declined to comment Tuesday. But a state investigator wrote in an affidavit that Hicks denies killing Beach.

Beach was lonely after his wife’s death and met Hicks in June. Authorities say she moved in and he added her to his will, but that he kicked her out in early November after telling friends he thought she was trying to kill him.