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A Kensington man accused of murdering his 30-year-old wife with strychnine-laced tequila pleaded not guilty Tuesday at his San Diego Municipal Court arraignment.
John Elbreck Morency, 46, the owner of a Miramar Road auto repair shop, is charged in the July 31 poisoning of his wife, Sue Ann Morency, who died Aug. 5.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Eichler said the “primary motive for the murder was jealousy,” and a secondary motive was financial gain.
According to court documents, an investigation revealed that Morency had taken out a $100,000 life insurance policy on his wife six weeks before her death.
Morency, who was arrested Aug. 24 at the couple’s home on Caminito de la Escena, was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing Nov. 1.
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