DEDHAM, Mass. (Court TV) — A Massachusetts woman was found not guilty in the death of her ex-husband, who died of a heart condition while the two were arguing.
Penelope McGee, 58, had faced charges for causing Andrew Savitz’s January 2020 death and faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter at trial. McGee opted for a bench trial, meaning Judge Beverly Cannone, who presided over Karen Read’s first trial, was the sole decider of fact. After hearing closing arguments, Cannone immediately delivered her not-guilty verdict.

Penelope “Penny” McGee appears in court Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (Court TV)
McGee was accused of going to Savitz’s home on Jan. 28 to confront him about an e-mail she received from his brother evicting her from the home she had been living in. McGee told officers that Savitz grabbed and pushed her during an argument before passing out in the front hallway, where she began administering CPR.
The former couple’s then-18-year-old daughter told officers a different story. She claimed she heard her parents arguing for several minutes and her father asking McGee to leave. The daughter said she went downstairs and witnessed her mother slapping and pushing Savitz, and her father collapsed while she was on the phone with 911.
A medical examiner determined Savitz’s cause of death was cardiac dysrhythmia following an altercation in a person with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.
Savitz, 66, was a well-known environmental consultant and a Democratic aide to former governor Michael S. Dukakis, reported The Boston Globe. McGee came from a prominent political family in Rhode Island and previously worked as a vice president at J.P. Morgan Chase, according to GoLocalProv.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 6 – 2/5/25
- The defense argues that the Commonwealth “chose to rely on Zuzzie Savitz’s changing narrative” and was misled by forensic pathologist Dr. Rebecca Dedrick.
- The Commonwealth argues that Penelope McGee knew attacking Andrew Savitz “would have created substantial harm to him.”
- Immediately following closing arguments, Judge Beverly Cannone delivered a not guilty verdict.
- WATCH: Socialite Manslaughter Trial: Closing Arguments
DAY 5 – 2/4/25
- Dr. Rebecca Dedrick returned to the witness stand to continue cross-examination as McGee’s attorney questioned how she determined Savitz’s death met the criteria for “homicide by heart attack.”
- Dedrick admitted she did not review the victim’s medical records beyond the ones from the night of the incident at the hospital, and that she never listened to the 911 call, maintaining it would not have helped her determination.
- The state rested its case-in-chief.
- WATCH: Socialite Manslaughter Trial: Analyzing the Commonwealth’s Case
DAY 4 – 2/3/25
- Dr. Rebecca Dedrick, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Andrew Savitz, concluded his death was a homicide based largely on details from the police report about Savitz’s fight with the defendant and medical reports that he experienced a heart attack during or shortly after the fight.
DAY 3 – 1/30/25
- Paramedic Kevin Robischeau testified that Savitz was in cardiac arrest when they arrived to the home, and detailed the life-saving measures they took at the scene and in the ambulance.
- On cross-examination, the defense questioned whether Savitz could’ve sustained injuries while the paramedics were administering aid, to which Robischeau agreed.
- WATCH:
DAY 2 – 1/29/25
- Patrol Officer Daniel Yanez, who responded to the scene, testified he saw Savitz gurgling, breathing slightly, and had a slight pulse, and that McGee was standing beside Savitz.
- Yanez testifed that once Savitz was in the ambulance, McGee said she came to the home to talk to Savitz, which turned into a verbal altercation. McGee told Yanez that Savitz pushed her against the wall and in the kitchen, leading to broken plates. McGee told Yanez that Savitz also grabbed her by the hair while yelling at her to leave, then he collapsed in the hallway and she began CPR.
- On cross-examination, Yanez was questioned about his report, which did not include alleged details Zuzzie shared during her testimony about hearing her parents yelling, her going to the kitchen, Savitz being in distress during the argument, or McGee slurring her words.
- Patrol Officer Sean Russell described McGee as “pacing, shocked, a little anxious” at the scene.
- McGee explained to Russell that an email about an eviction caused the argument.
- Russell did not write a report but remembered Penny as “in shock” not angry.
- Lt. Det. Raymond Richards testified about booking McGee the night of the incident.
- McGee arrived at the police station around 2 a.m. and was interviewed by detectives.
- McGee was cooperative, showed no signs of intoxication, and reported having a glass of wine.
- Richards checked off “no problems observed” on the medical intake sheet and noted that she had not shown any strange behavior.
- WATCH:
DAY 1 – 1/28/25
- Prosecutors argue Penelope McGee knew her ex-husband, Andrew Savitz, was in ill health and caused his death during an argument. Her defense argues Savitz was the aggressor.
- WATCH:
- Jonathan Savitz, the brother of victim Andrew Savitz, testified about evicting Penelope McGee from her home that the Savitz family owned and his communication with her after Andrew’s accident. The defense points out that Andrew’s brothers were not involved in his life or care.
- WATCH:
- Zuzzie Savitz, the daughter of Penelope McGee and Andrew Savitz, testifies about witnessing her parents arguing and calling 911.
- WATCH:
- On cross-examination, the defense question’s Zuzzie’s statements to police and her testimony.
- WATCH:
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