Viola Drath, a 91-year-old socialite, biographer and expert in trans-Atlantic relations, died last week in her Georgetown home of strangulation and blunt force trauma. Her husband, Albrecht Muth, 47, was charged with second-degree murder.
Muth was the subject of a 2004 protective order obtained by his then-boyfriend, Donald Davis, who alleged Muth threatened to kill him after he broke off their affair.
Drath received a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Nebraska, wrote for several publications, became an expert in trans-Atlantic relations of some note and authored a 1975 biography of former German Chancellor Willy Brandt that former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has called "a must read."
Charlyne Berens, associate dean at the University of Nebraska College of Journalism, who worked with Drath, was quoted by the Omaha World-Herald on Drath's life:
"Visiting with her was like ... a mini-course in international relations," she said. "She had so many insights into what was happening in the world and on the national level, too."Muth goes by the name Sheik Ali Al-Muthaba on his website and has claimed to be an Iraqi army general. The Iraqi Embassy said he has never been part of its army or government.
Police said Muth had no formal job and was supported by a $2,000-a-month allowance from his wife, They found an April 11 letter with a Draft signature they say is forged.
The letter stipulates that Drath's family was to pay Muth $150,000 if she died. The letter also said Muth would get $50,000 more if the liquid assets in her estate totaled more than $600,000.
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