Grand jury to investigate paralegal's death in lawyer's bathtub
An investigating grand jury will be convened in the death of a paralegal found dead in the bathtub at the home of prominent Philadelphia lawyer.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office has confirmed that the investigative grand jury will look into the death of 26-year-old Julia Law, report the Philadelphia Inquirer, Fox 29 News, NBC 10 and CBS Philly, which broke the news. Her body was found by a maintenance man on May 25 in the condo of her lawyer boss, criminal defense lawyer A. Charles Peruto Jr. Law and Peruto had been dating.
A spokeswoman for the DA’s office did not say why the grand jury was investigating.
Law enforcement sources previously told Philly.com that Law may have drowned in the bathtub as a result of a seizure. There was no sign of a disturbance at the condo, nor were drugs and alcohol found.
But Fox29 is reporting that Law had a blood alcohol count of .45, five times the legal limit. The Inquirer says it has not been able to confirm the information.
Peruto has said he was staying with friends in New Jersey, where he is overseeing construction of a new home there, on the night of Law’s death. Peruto’s friend and colleague, Richard DeSipio, previously told the Philadelphia Daily News that Law had a key to Peruto’s condo and she had been texting co-workers up until 1 a.m. the day of her death, complaining that the condo was a real “bachelor pad” because it didn’t have any scented bubble bath.
