News 12 at 6 o'clock, May 23, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Some call her the black widow, and today Betty Neumar made her first court appearance in the Richmond County Jail.

News 12 was the only one in the hearing when Betty Neumar heard her charges.

At 76-years-old, she has lived a long life, but for 22 years investigators believe she may have gotten away with murder. Betty Neumar, a grandmother, is in the spotlight and she's not happy about it.

Judge Jennings stated in court today, "The State of North Carolina has called for your return to answer a charge of solicitation of murder"

This murder happened nearly 22 years ago, when Betty Neumar was then known as Betty Gentry.

Investigators found her husband's body inside their North Carolina home. Harold Gentry had been shot several times. This happened in 1986, and until now, it has been a cold case. North Carolina investigators say new evidence shows the trigger was pulled, because Betty ordered it.

Betty remarried and she and her next husband John Neumar were interviewed by News 12 in 1997. John died last October and now his two children also have questions for Betty.

"He passed away recently. And when he passed away she never called me and told me he was sick or nothing. And when I found out he was dead, I read about it in the paper. And before I could go see him, he was cremated," said Betty's stepson, John Neumar.

But Betty's children see it differently.

"I know my mother is innocent," says her daughter Kellie Gentry Bulcak in a phone interview with News 12. Bulcak says her mother has "been more than willing to cooperate, she has not hid anything."

While covering her face, Betty Neumar in court to News 12 toady. "You are very inconsiderate."

And while she may not be a fan of the spotlight for now, it's something she may have to get used to, because the questions keep piling up.

"I want to know why he was just cremated before I even know he was dead," asks John Neumar, Betty's stepson.

Questions like this took 22 years for Harold Gentry's family to answer.
And after such a long wait, they hope the case is finally shut on Betty Neumar.

Richmond County is still waiting on some paperwork from North Carolina authorities before they can hold Neumar's extradition hearing. The hearing may take place sometime within the next few days.