Was Joan Baruffaldi Suicide or Husband's Murder Victim?

Nov. 25, 2009— -- The body of Joan Baruffaldi lies in the basement of a funeral home in Somerville, Mass. That part, at least, is not in dispute. But whether Baruffaldi committed suicide or was murdered is the issue that is pitting two families against each other and has lawyers for both sides fighting in court.

On Nov. 1, 45-year-old Joan Baruffaldi traveled to the tropical paradise of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands to attend a veterinary conference. Baruffaldi was the owner of a successful animal clinic in North Reading, Mass., and the mother of two.

On the trip to St. John she brought along her husband of three years, 47-year-old Robert Harris. The decision to go was, according to the Baruffaldi family attorney, a chance to try to repair a failing marriage. Baruffaldi had found evidence Harris had carried on an affair with a co-worker and according to attorney Donald McNamee of Winchester, Mass., there was also a history of violence in the marriage.

"At one point she filed a 209A restraining order where she told the police that she thought he was poisoning her," McNamee said.

On Nov. 4, Baruffaldi was found after midnight hanging from a shower rod clinging to life.

"Her feet were on the floor, she was propped up against a wall with the tie from her bathrobe around her neck," said McNamee. Baruffaldi died in a hospital several hours later.

Harris told authorities he and his wife had spent the day drinking and arguing, and late in the evening she locked herself in their hotel room bathroom. Harris said he called hotel security when he heard a crash and his wife didn't respond. Authorities on St. John ruled the death a suicide by hanging.

That was far from the end of it.

Deeply suspicious of Harris, Baruffaldi's family hired an attorney. And Baruffaldi's brother, Robert, traveled down to St. John to talk to the authorities and witnesses himself. The families' aim is to get a second autopsy performed in the United States.

Their attorney has also filed a wrongful death action against Harris, who has since hired well-known defense attorney Kevin Reddington to represent him. Reddington did not return repeated calls from ABCNews.com.