AKRON -- The Grafton couple accused of dumping liquid cyanide in the Rocky River appeared in court Thursday.
Teresina Montorsi, 74, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Akron and was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.
The lawyer for her husband Renato Montorsi, 79, asked for a competency hearing for his client so that is being scheduled following medical exams.
The couple appeared before U.S. District Judge John Adams.
Federal officials say dumped liquid cyanide was the cause of the fish kill in April in the East Branch of the Rocky River.
On Oct. 10, federal officials indicted the couple, owners of the Kennedy Mint Company in Strongsville.
Federal officials say that on April 17, the trash collectors that service Kennedy Mint refused to take the 55-gallon drum of liquid cyanide, a drum that had a skull and crossbones (indicating poison) on the side of the drum.
Federal officials said that, on April 18, Renato Montorsi then dragged the barrel over to a storm drain in his company's parking lot, used a tool to poke a hole in the bottom the drum until it began leaking and the contents then drained into the storm sewer, which, in turn, flowed into the East Branch of the Rocky River.
On April 22, the dead fish began appearing in the river.
Federal officials now say the exact number of fish killed is 30,893.
Attorneys indicted the husband for violation of the Clean Water Act, conspiracy and two counts of obstruction of justice. His wife was charged with three counts of conspiracy and two counts of obstruction of justice.
She allegedly tried to stall the EPA workers from entering the facility and inspecting the drums.
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