Suspect Held in ‘Springer’ Death
The ex-husband of a woman found dead after their twisted love story aired this week on “The Jerry Springer Show” was in custody Friday, officials said.
Ralf Jurgen Panitz, who had disappeared after Nancy Campbell-Panitz was beaten to death Monday, made a brief court appearance and was ordered held without bail on a murder charge. Panitz’s wife, Eleanor Marie Panitz, was being held as a material witness.
Defense attorney Jayne Weintraub told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune on Friday that the couple decided to surrender after realizing they were suspects.
Hours after the show aired--and not long after Campbell-Panitz told a judge she feared for her life--she was found dead in her Sarasota home.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
