Conn. Woman Who Confessed to Killing Husband Died by Suicide Hours Before Sentencing

A Connecticut woman died by suicide hours before she was scheduled to be sentenced in connection to her husband's death.

Linda Kosuda-Bigazzi, 76, who was found dead at her Burlington home on the morning of Wednesday, July 24, died by suicide, the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 12. Her cause of death is ethylene glycol toxicity, per the medical examiner's office.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ethylene glycol is an "industrial compound" found in consumer products such as "antifreeze, hydraulic brake fluids, some stamp pad inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, plastics, films, and cosmetics."

The Connecticut State Police were called to Kosuda-Bigazzi's home at approximately 10:37 a.m. on July 24 after an individual reported that they were "unable to make contact with the resident." She was scheduled to be sentenced at 2 p.m. that day for the death of her husband, Dr. Pierluigi Bigazzi, 84, per the Associated Press.

"Attempts by responding Troopers to initiate contact with anyone inside of the residence were unsuccessful and with the assistance of the local fire department, Troopers made entry into the residence," said the Connecticut State Police. "An unresponsive female was located within the residence, who was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene."

Kosuda-Bigazzi was found dead four months after she pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the first degree and larceny in the first degree during a court appearance in March.

She was arrested after her husband, who worked at the University of Connecticut, was found dead in their basement on Feb. 5, 2018, a criminal information summary previously obtained by PEOPLE revealed.

A press release from Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott stated that police were called to do a welfare check at the home "from the victim’s employer, who had not heard from the victim for several months."

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"An investigation showed paychecks from the victim’s employer continued to be deposited into the couple’s joint checking account from the time of his death, which authorities believe to be sometime in July 2017, until his body was discovered in early February 2018," the press release stated.