Narcy Novack, Widow of Hotel Heir Ben Novack Jr., Pleads Not Guilty to His Murder

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBS/AP) The widow of millionaire hotel heir Ben Novack Jr. has pleaded not guilty in his slaying, even as federal prosecutors alleged that there's not one, not two...but three murder plots in connection with the killing.

Prosecutors say 53-year-old Narcy Novack of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., orchestrated the July 2009 slaying of Ben Novack Jr. in their room at a suburban New York hotel. She was arraigned Monday in federal court in White Plains, N.Y., after being arrested at her home last month.

Prosecutors say Narcy Novack allegedly let two killers into the hotel room, watched as they beat her husband with dumbbells and ordered them to cut his eyes out.

She has also been accused but not charged in the killing of her 86-year-old mother-in-law in April 2009 in Ft. Lauderdale.

As Magistrate Judge Paul Davison weighed Novack's request for bail, federal prosecutors said the government had information about a third murder plot in the case.

"We have learned of efforts to kill another witness," assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott Jacobson said during the arraignment.

Jacobson did not identify the witness or say who was behind the alleged plot.

The judge denied Narcy Novack's request for bail.

The father of murder victim Ben Novack Jr. founded Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel.

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July 9, 2010 - Widow Arrested in Murder of Ben Novack Jr., son of Miami Hotel Legend