STROUDSBURG -- Jurors in Monroe County heard opening statements Wednesday in the homicide trial of Edward Yale, accused of beating his wife Joan to death in 2001.
The case originally seems to have fallen through the cracks. The lead investigator retired in 2004 and no one else was assigned the case.
Now 14 years later, Yale, 76, is in a courtroom on trial for criminal homicide.
On his way into court in Monroe County, we asked Yale if he is guilty.
"That's a dumb question, really," Yale replied.
Prosecutors say Yale's wife Joan was found at the bottom of the basement steps inside their home on Mount Nebo Road in Marshalls Creek. Yale told investigators she fell.
At the time, the cause of death could not be determined and the case went cold.
But when the investigation was reopened 10 years later, forensic reports showed the victim's injuries were not consistent with a fall.
Troopers believe Joan was beaten to death by Yale who, according to court paperwork, called his wife an elephant, a Nazi, and a fat pig.
'The evidence in this case is going to take you on a journey into the darkest inner recesses of the human soul," said prosecutors during opening statements.
Prosecutors claim the couple's arguments centered around the deed to the home where they lived. The victim refused to add Yale's name to the paperwork and instead kept the deed in her and her late husband's name.
Yale's defense attorney says that's just not the case and claims his client will testify during this trial.
"If Joan Yale is dead, he's (Edward Yale) not getting his name on the deed," said the defense.
Before the trial began, the judge had to dismiss one juror due to medical reasons.
Testimony is expected to continue Thursday morning at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg.