Jill Blackstone is facing extradition from Maryland on charges she murdered her own sister.
Daytime television producer Jill Blackstone, who worked on the talk shows of Jerry Springer and Rosie O'Donnell, has been arrested in connection with the 2015 killing of her deaf and partially blind sister, authorities said Thursday.
Los Angeles County prosecutors filed a murder charge against Blackstone last month, following a two-year investigation by the LAPD. She was also charged with three counts of animal cruelty.
She was arrested in Baltimore, where she had sought medical treatment at John Hopkins University Medical Center, according to police. She is awaiting extradition to L.A.
She formerly worked as producer on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," as well as on one episode of "The Jerry Springer Show," according to the Internet Movie Database.
Wendy Blackstone was found unconscious in the garage of the Studio City home that she shared with her sister. Three pet dogs were also in the garage, and two of them died. Paramedics tried to save her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jill Blackstone was hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities at the time suspected the two had planned to jointly commit suicide, but Jill backed out at the last minute and summoned help. She told investigators she did not remember much of the incident.
Jill was charged at the time with her sister's killing, but was later released after prosecutors demanded further investigation.
In statement Thursday, the LAPD said Jill drugged her sister and placed her in the garage of their home, along with three pet dogs, and staged the scene as an accident. Jill Blackstone then started a fire, the statement said.
Calling their investigation "extremely complex and sensitive," LAPD officials said Jill Blackstone and her sister were under financial hardship and Jill was frustrated at being "forced to provide Wendy long-term care," the department said.
There was no public comment from Jill Blackstone Thursday. At the time of her initial arrest, she denied harming her sister.
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