Page One

Wife claims innocence in murder of husband

Saturday November 16, 2002

 

WALNUT CREEK – Susan Polk, the 45-year-old Orinda resident accused of murdering her 70-year-old husband last month, pled innocent Friday in court, taking the first step in the high-profile court case. 

Felix Polk, a prominent Berkeley psychologist, was found dead in his cottage on the evening of Oct. 14. Police state he had been stabbed 27 times and beaten on his face and back. 

The couple’s 15-year-old son allegedly found Felix Polk’s body on the floor, wearing only black underpants, and phoned the police to report that his mother had killed his father. 

Susan Polk was arrested on murder charges after police discovered her husband's body. 

Court documents show that police found several long strands of hair in Felix Polk’s hand and an open book on the floor next to him. 

Family members allege that in the midst of the couple’s nasty divorce Susan Polk threatened to kill her husband several times. 

When questioned, Susan Polk repeatedly denied killing the man, Felix Polk, whose patient she had become 30 years ago when she was a troubled 15-year-old girl. In her divorce papers, she claims to have been seduced by the successful doctor.  

Susan Polk will be back in Contra Costa County Superior Court on Dec. 20 to schedule her preliminary hearings. She has hired Berkeley attorney Elizabeth Grossman to defend her and is being held without bail in the county jail in Martinez.