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Woman Arrested In Connection With 2007 Shooting Death Of Husband In Whittier

WHITTIER (CBS) — Authorities Saturday said a murder charge has been filed against a woman in connection with the 2007 shooting death of her husband at their Whittier home.

A statement released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says Linda Gwozdz, formerly Linda Doreen Duffey, was arrested about 8 a.m. on May 22, at her home in Mississippi, where she resides with her new husband.

The statement says the victim, Patrick Duffey, was 50 years old when he was found fatally shot in his home in the 15800 block of Sharon Hill Drive on April 26, 2007.

At the time, authorities say, his wife told them that she had accidentally shot him in the head while examining his gun.

"The investigation has been ongoing for five years," said Homicide Lieutenant Matt Burson, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "Recently new information was obtained."

Gwozdz was being held on $2 million in Mississippi pending extradition to Los Angeles County.

Saturday evening, KCAL9 and CBS2 reporter Amanda Burden spoke to Karen McGuire, a former Duffey neighbor, who says she will never forget April 26, 2007. "It was horrible. We still can't go past the house without thinking about it."

Still, McGuire doesn't believe her former neighbor is capable of murder. "I'm just shocked, because it just doesn't sound like the Linda I knew."

Another neighbor, Margaret Stear said, "She loved her husband. She loved her family. They were always joshing with each other. They didn't spat. They were happy."

According to police, the shots fired that night were intended to kill.

Prior to her arrest, she was working at the speech and hearing sciences department at the University of Southern Mississippi.

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