Husband of slain radio host April Kauffman held pending hearing on gun charges
The charges stem from a surprise raid Tuesday by county and federal authorities at the office of Dr. James Kauffman, 68, an endocrinologist, that prosecutors say was unrelated to his wife's still unsolved murder five years ago at their Linwood home.
MAYS LANDING, N.J. — The husband of slain Jersey Shore radio personality April Kauffman, appearing in an orange jumpsuit in criminal court Wednesday, will remain in jail until at least Monday, when a judge ordered a hearing on whether he can be further detained pending a trial on gun charges.
The charges stem from a surprise raid Tuesday by county and federal authorities at the office of James Kauffman, 68, an endocrinologist, that prosecutors say was unrelated to his wife's unsolved murder five years ago at their Linwood home.
"Yes, sir," Kauffman said several times to Judge Bernard DeLury's pro forma questions. He mostly stared straight ahead during the brief hearing, turning only at the end to his current wife, Carole Weintraub of Philadelphia, who sat in the second row, not far from three of his late wife's best friends.
"Please, no," Weintraub said when asked before the hearing if she wanted to say anything.
After the hearing, Lee Darby, longtime friend of April Kauffman, who was a well-known host and advocate for veterans, remarked on the sight of James Kauffman in prison garb.
"He looks great in orange," Darby said. "He obviously showed his unstable side. I just hope that they have whatever they need to detain him further."
James Kauffman's stepdaughter, Kimberly Pack, who has filed a wrongful-death suit against him, did not attend.
Edwin Jacobs, the prominent defense attorney retained by Kauffman after his wife's death, said his client brandished a gun Tuesday after authorities showed up to execute search warrants "Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10."
"There have been 10 searches conducted on my client in the last five years," he said. "Find me another citizen in the state of New Jersey who's had his place of business or his car or his home searched 10 times in the last five years. That would provoke a person.
"I think they're looking for a way to justify a five-year fruitless investigation," Jacobs said. "They're chasing the wrong person for a homicide that occurred five years ago."
Kauffman surrendered Tuesday morning after he pointed the weapon at FBI and local officers and threatened to kill himself, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner, who revived the investigation of April Kauffman's death.
Jacobs said Wednesday that the complaints filed on the gun charges indicated only that Kauffman brandished the gun and threatened to kill himself, not that he pointed the weapon at police. He said he would argue Monday that Kauffman was not a danger to anyone and should be released pending a trial on the gun charges.
First Assistant Prosecutor Cary Shill said the state would move for detention. New Jersey no longer has routine cash bail, and a judge can order a defendant detained until trial or released with conditions.
Kauffman and his wife, who runs an executive recruiting service, also have residences in Arizona and Philadelphia.
April Kauffman was found shot to death in the couple's bedroom after her husband had left for work. Her body was discovered by a handyman who cared for pet birds in the couple's home in the suburb of Atlantic City. James Kauffman said she was alive when he left and has maintained his innocence.
Tyner went to court last month seeking permission to obtain a DNA sample from James Kauffman.
Tyner told reporters that the raids were not connected to the killing but that the investigation into it was continuing. He called the criminal investigation that led to the search warrants "wide-ranging" and requiring the services of the FBI and multiple jurisdictions. Computers, files, and other items were taken from Kauffman's clinic. Tyner refused to say Wednesday what the investigation is about.
Kauffman was first taken to a psychiatric intervention program for monitoring after the 45-minute standoff, then processed at the nearby Egg Harbor Township Police Department on gun and obstruction-of-justice charges and taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
The killing has led to speculation for years but has not slowed the doctor's endocrinology practice. Patients continued to arrive for appointments after the raids and several said they were dismayed to have their appointments canceled. Tyner predicted the endocrinology clinic would be closed "for the foreseeable future."
Tuesday's raids apparently created issues for patients whose medical records were seized.
Donna Weaver, spokeswoman for the prosecutor, issued a statement Wednesday acknowledging that "due to the sensitive and ongoing nature of the investigation involving Dr. James Kauffman, a number of medical files pertaining to his practice have been seized."
"Because of the volume of the evidence, investigators are unable to return these medical files at this time," she stated. "Any files that are deemed to have no evidential value will be returned as soon as is practicable."
Other files will be copied and then returned, she said.
"Should there be an emergency, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office will strive to assist in any way possible," she said. She gave an emergency number, 609-909-7800.