Man pleads not guilty to cooking wife

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VISTA, Calif., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A California man pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, who police found dismembered, with body parts cooking on the stove and her head in the freezer.

A Vista Superior Court judge Wednesday ordered Frederick Joseph Hengl, 68, to stay in jail on $5 million bail, U-T San Diego reported.

Police said they were called to Hengl's Oceanside home Friday after neighbors complained of a foul smell coming from the residence for about a week.

When police entered the home through the back door, neighbors said they saw Hengl leave through the front door.

Police found three pans of "meat" cooking on the stove and realized it was pieces of the victim, Anna Faris, 73, Deputy District Attorney Katherine Flaherty said. They found Faris' head in a plastic bag inside the freezer and multiple pieces of freshly cut bone throughout the house.

"They also found a work area set up in the bathroom, with saws, a boning knife and other cutting instruments," Flaherty said.

"There is no evidence of cannibalism at this time," she added.

Police speculate Faris had been killed sometime around Nov. 1.

In addition to the murder charge, Hengl was charged with willful cruelty to an elder and committing an unlawful act with human remains. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life, U-T San Diego reported.