Jury Indicts Widow of Slain Fred Lane

C H A R L O T T E, N.C., Oct. 17 -- A state grand jury on Monday formallyindicted the widow of NFL running back Fred Lane for his murder.

Deidre Lane’s case went before grand jurors almost two monthsafter she was charged with shooting her husband to death insidetheir Charlotte home. The jury agreed there is enough evidence forprosecutors to pursue a trial in the July 6 shooting.

Lane has been held in jail on federal bank larceny charges forthe past month.

She has admitted from the beginning that she shot and killed herhusband. She said she fired in fear after Fred Lane had beaten andchoked her.

Local prosecutors contend the motive may have been money — a $5million life insurance policy the couple had taken out on FredLane’s life. That could be a factor that would allow prosecutors topursue the death penalty, as could a conviction on the bank larcenycharges.

FBI investigators have offered a different possible motive alsoinvolving money.

Documents unsealed last month contained a statement from aninvestigator which suggested Lane killed her husband to keep himfrom telling police about her role in the July 1, 1998, theft of$41,200 from a Wachovia Bank branch in Charlotte.

Lane’s attorney, Henderson Hill, said there was nothing to theallegation.