MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -
The wife of the accused Toomer's Corner oaks poisoner, Harvey Updyke, is speaking out for the first time in an exclusive interview with WSFA 12 News. She says she just wants the case to be over. Her comments come a day after Updyke's bond was revoked and he was remanded to jail.
"Even people that kill people have a bond," Mrs. Updyke said in a phone interview from her Louisiana home. "This man, he's accused of poisoning two trees and he doesn't have a bond. I mean you gotta be kidding me."
Updyke, a self-described die-hard fan of the University of Alabama's football team, is accused of poisoning the iconic trees at Toomer's Corner in the days following the Auburn Tigers' come-from-behind win in the 2010 Iron Bowl.
Updyke made national headlines after announcing on a syndicated sports radio show what he'd done. He's apologized several times but has never explicitly admitted to the act. He has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
The Lee County District Attorney asked for Updyke's bond revocation after the defendant was arrested for simple assault at a home improvement store in Louisiana back in September.
The judge said Updyke violated his bond by being arrested. Elva Updyke claims the charges were about to be dropped but were still in the system.
Previously, Elva Updyke had refused to speak with the media, even trying to block cameras from filming her husband during one court hearing. But why did she choose to speak out now?
"Honestly, you asked me how I feel about it, I'm just tired of it. That's why I'm actually talking to you. I've had a lot of people, a lot of newspapers, magazines call me for interviews, and I haven't done it till now. This is the last straw what they did yesterday."
Elva Updyke said she contracted throat cancer, and said it's been hard dealing with that and with the situation with her husband.
She said she doesn't know whether her husband actually committed the crime.
"I'll be honest with you, I never asked him, because I don't want to know the answer," Updyke said. "I have never, never asked him, so I can't be honest with you and say yes or no."
Updyke's trial is scheduled for April 8th. A status hearing is set for next month.
Copyright 2013 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.
Elva and Harvey Updyke arrive at a court hearing in 2012
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTVM, a Raycom Media Station.
