Susan Spencer

and Tom Tamberelli.

While a resident at St. Louis Medical Center in the early 90s, Dr. Illis met Miriam, who was a surgical assistant. I loved her immediately.

While a resident at St. Louis Medical Center in the early 90s, Dr. Illis met Miriam, who was a surgical assistant. I loved her immediately.

While a resident at St. Louis Medical Center in the early 90s, Dr. Illis met Miriam, who was a surgical assistant. I loved her immediately.

A few years after they married, the Illises had a son, Richie, and moved here to Williamsport, where Miriam worked side by side with her husband in the operating room, running the heart-lung machine. She also was very active in the community, volunteering at church, at the symphony. By all accounts, an exuberant, dynamic personality who had no trouble making friends.

A few years after they married, the Illises had a son, Richie, and moved here to Williamsport, where Miriam worked side by side with her husband in the operating room, running the heart-lung machine. She also was very active in the community, volunteering at church, at the symphony. By all accounts, an exuberant, dynamic personality who had no trouble making friends.

A few years after they married, the Illises had a son, Richie, and moved here to Williamsport, where Miriam worked side by side with her husband in the operating room, running the heart-lung machine. She also was very active in the community, volunteering at church, at the symphony. By all accounts, an exuberant, dynamic personality who had no trouble making friends.

Friends Dottie Bailey and Karen Young say Miriam was very down to earth, despite the money and the status. He was making a million dollars. They were one of the wealthiest people in Williamsport. She wasn't the rich doctor's wife?

Friends Dottie Bailey and Karen Young say Miriam was very down to earth, despite the money and the status. He was making a million dollars. They were one of the wealthiest people in Williamsport. She wasn't the rich doctor's wife?

Friends Dottie Bailey and Karen Young say Miriam was very down to earth, despite the money and the status. He was making a million dollars. They were one of the wealthiest people in Williamsport. She wasn't the rich doctor's wife?

In 1996, when Richie was two, Miriam became a stay-at-home mom, quit her job, and never looked back.

In 1996, when Richie was two, Miriam became a stay-at-home mom, quit her job, and never looked back.

In 1996, when Richie was two, Miriam became a stay-at-home mom, quit her job, and never looked back.

But Miriam's friends, who say they rarely saw Dr. Illes, had the impression that he was becoming increasingly distant and demanding.

But Miriam's friends, who say they rarely saw Dr. Illes, had the impression that he was becoming increasingly distant and demanding.

But Miriam's friends, who say they rarely saw Dr. Illes, had the impression that he was becoming increasingly distant and demanding.

And the marriage, says Leslie Smith, seemed under serious strain.

And the marriage, says Leslie Smith, seemed under serious strain.

And the marriage, says Leslie Smith, seemed under serious strain.

Her friends say that Dr. Illis' emotional distance made Miriam miserable. In the winter of 1998, she hired a divorce lawyer, Stephen Hurwitz, although she seemed not to really want a divorce.