Slaying Suspect Agrees to Extradition

Former fugitive Charles Russ has agreed to be voluntarily extradited from Florida to San Diego to stand trial on charges of defrauding his mother-in-law of her life’s savings. Russ is also a suspect in the 1987 slaying of his wife, Pamela Russ.

The 39-year-old former entrepreneur from Leucadia had refused voluntary extradition but changed his mind Monday when he was taken into court in Broward County, Fla., to be served with a governor’s warrant ordering his extradition, Florida Assistant State Atty. Jeff Driscoll said.

In San Diego, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mark Pettine, who is prosecuting the case, said arrangements will be made to bring Russ to San Diego within 30 days.

Pamela Russ was found dead alongside Torrey Pines Road south of Del Mar in February, 1987. She had been run over with her own Mercedes-Benz, which was found nearby. No arrests were ever made in the 33-year-old artist’s death, but San Diego police have long considered Charles Russ the prime suspect.

Russ moved to Taos, N.M., shortly after his wife’s death, then disappeared altogether after San Diego authorities issued a warrant for his arrest that accused him of defrauding his mother-in-law, Ginger Allen of Encinitas, of $83,000.

Russ was arrested Aug. 24 in Hollywood, Fla., after the broadcast of “America’s Most Wanted” television show, which depicted him as the likely slayer of his wife.

Authorities said Russ had been using the name Patrick Donovan and was living with a 20-year-old hotel employee, Alisa Noveshen, shortly before his apprehension. Noveshen was arrested on a federal charge of harboring a fugitive.