Raymond Clark III Arraigned in Annie Le Murder
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBS/AP) Raymond Clark III appeared in court and was charged with murder Thursday hours after his arrest in the killing of Yale graduate student Annie Le, whose body was found stuffed in the wall of the research building where they both worked.
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Clark, 24, kept his head bowed during the three-minute arraignment in the death of Le, also 24. He didn't enter a plea and said, "Yes, your honor," when asked whether he understood his rights. The judge then set bail at $3 million and sent Clark to a holding cell.
New Haven Police Chief James Lewis said Le's death was a case of workplace violence and elaborated little except to say reports that the two had a romantic relationship were untrue "to my knowledge."
"It is important to note that this is not about urban crime, university crime, domestic crime but an issue of workplace violence, which is becoming a growing concern around the country," Lewis said, adding he wasn't ruling out additional charges.
Clark's attorney, David Dworski, did not return calls seeking comment. He has said Clark was "committed to proceeding appropriately" with police.
Clark was arrested earlier Thursday at a Super 8 motel in Cromwell, about 25 miles north of the Ivy League campus, where he got a room shortly after being released from police questioning in Le's death.
Le was found dead on Sunday, her body hidden in the basement wall of a building where she worked as a medical researcher, on the day she was to marry her college sweetheart, Columbia University graduate student Jonathan Widawsky. The Connecticut medical examiner said Wednesday that Le died of "traumatic asphyxiation."
Clark was under constant surveillance after he was released, and police spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning staking out the Super 8 motel where Clark was staying.
Shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday, police moved closer, shutting down the highway outside the motel and blocking the road leading into the motel as they made the arrest. Clark was wearing a white shirt with tan stripes and tan pants as police ushered him into the back of a dark sedan with tinted windows. The car then sped off toward the highway, and arrived at the New Haven police department about an hour later.
Richard Levin, the president of Yale, released a statement shortly after the arrest, saying Clark's employment history gave no indication he was capable of such a crime.
"This incident could have happened in any city, in any university, or in any workplace. It says more about the dark side of the human soul than it does about the extent of security measures," Levin said in a message sent to the Yale community.
The family of Le's fiance, Jonathan Widawsky, said Thursday that they would not attend services for the "foreseeable future" at their temple on New York's Long Island.
They said they want to "facilitate the safety, security and sensitivity" of services at Temple Beth El.
The family also thanked people who were involved in preparations for "a wedding that was not to be."
Clark's next court date is Oct. 6.
Photos: Who is Raymond Clark III?
Photos: Raymond Clark & Fiancée in Love
Photos: Yale Holds Vigil for Slain Student
Photos: Student Found Dead on Wedding Day
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