WASHINGTON -- The estranged wife of a retired intelligence expert doubts medical findings that her husband apparently killed himself rather than face charges of selling military secrets to Libya, it was reported Monday.
Waldo Dubberstein was found dead Friday from a gunshot wound to the head, several hours after failing to appear for arraignment in federal court in Alexandria, Va.
An Arlington County medical examiner said the death was an apparent suicide.
Marie Dubberstein told The Washington Times newspaper that her 75-year-old husband told her over dinner the night before his death he was being framed.
'I don't think he committed suicide,' she said. 'I know he felt that he was being framed. When all this first happened, it reminded both of us of the McCarthy era when people were accused irrationally. Things were going good for him until they accused him of something he did not do.'
Mrs. Dubberstein refused further comment to other reporters.
Prosecutors accused Dubberstein of selling secrets to Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy through ex-CIA agent and convicted gun smuggler Edwin Wilson.
Dubberstein was indicted Thursday and found dead the next day in the basement of an Arlington apartment building.
Mrs. Dubberstein told the Times her husband 'didn't look or act despondent,' during their dinner. 'It was a good dinner and we passed the evening talking about pleasant things,' she said.
She said if her husband did commit suicide, 'He did it because he felt used and was a target and had no way out.'
Police and the FBI said their investigations into the case could take several days. County police said they have not ruled out the possibility of foul play.
