Julia Law Update: Cause of death of Phila. lawyer's girlfriend still undetermined, report says
(CBS) PHILADELPHIA - The cause of death of Julia Law, the 26-year-old girlfriend and paralegal to high-profile Philadelphia defense attorney Charles Peruto Jr., remains undetermined as the Medical Examiner's Office continues to await the results of toxicology tests, Philly.com reports.
"All we can confirm right now is that there were no obvious signs of trauma to her body," Police spokesman Lt. John Stanford said, according to the news site.
Law, who would have turned 27 on Tuesday, was reportedly found naked, face down in a bathtub inside the Center City condo of Peruto Saturday morning by a maintenance worker.
CBS Philly reports sources say Peruto, 58, was in Avalon, N.J. for the weekend and was not at home when the body was found.
According to Philly.com, Peruto and Law had only recently started dating. But in a Facebook message posted after Law's death, Peruto referred to his girlfriend and employee as his "soulmate."
"I'm grateful we made every minute count, without a single dispute about anything ever," he wrote of Law.
While homicide detectives reportedly questioned Peruto in regards to the case, he is said to be a witness and not a suspect, according to CBS Philly.
Attorney Rich DeSipio, who is a friend and associate of Peruto, reportedly rushed to Peruto's condo after getting a frantic call from him Saturday morning. DeSipio told the station that Peruto was distraught and wanted his friend to confirm what had happened.
In an interview with Philly.com, DeSipio reportedly said Peruto cleaned the bathroom where Law was found after police processed the crime scene and allowed him to enter. The decision was reportedly made out of respect for his girlfriend, the site says.
The site also reports that Law's family has asked Peruto and other employees of the law firm to not attend the funeral.
Peruto and his colleagues are reportedly arranging a prayer service as a memorial.
"We want to bury our little girl," DeSipio told Philly.com