Adrienne Smith and her brother are accused of desecrating her husband's body
HACKENSACK -- A woman accused of desecrating her husband's body after his remains were found in six different plastic containers remained in jail on Saturday as attorneys argued in court over whether she should be released.
In court for her first appearance on Saturday, Adrienne Smith, 43, of Bergenfield, faces charges of chopping up the body of her late husband, Randolph Smith, whose remains were found in Burlington County earlier this week. Her brother, Orville Cousins, 40, of Bronx, N.Y., is charged with the same offense.
In arguing for her release, Smith's attorney said she is the mother of four children and insisted she is not a flight risk.
But Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Danielle Grootenboer argued Smith should remain behind bars.
Missing man's remains found in 6 plastic bins; Wife, her brother charged
Smith works full time as an operating room technician, handing surgeons their tools, putting on their gloves and getting them ready for surgery, her attorney said.
The judge set Wednesday as Smith's next court appearance.
Authorities found Randolph Smith's remains in Burlington City on Jan. 12, ten days after Adrienne Smith reported her husband missing. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Adrienne Smith had previously told authorities that she last saw her husband at their Morgan Street home around Christmas evening and that he left and never returned, authorities said.
Detectives from Bergen and Burlington counties investigated the incident after the remains were found and they said they discovered that Smith and Cousins had bought materials that were used in the desecration. Some of those materials were later found at Smith's home, authorities have said.
Police arrested Cousins in New York on Sunday and he is being held awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman