CORDELL, Okla. » Oklahoma prosecutors have charged a woman in the shooting death of a widower who let her move in after they met through Craigslist following the death of his wife of nearly 40 years.

The Oklahoman reports that 44-year-old Kathryn Hicks has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 59-year-old Michael Beach, who was found dead Nov. 30 in his Cordell home.

Hicks’ attorney, Mike Housley, declined to comment today. But a state investigator wrote in an affidavit that Hicks denied killing Beach.

Beach was lonely after his wife’s death and met Hicks in June. Authorities say she moved in and he added her to his will, but that he kicked her out in early November after telling friends he thought she was trying to kill him.

OSBI Special Agent Dannie Sanders wrote in the affidavit that Beach told a friend that Hicks had given him a milkshake Nov.2 that tasted gritty. Authorities say Beach went to the hospital that day for taking too much medication and that he blamed Hicks.

According to the affidavit, Hicks claimed that she left the home after the two had a disagreement because she had not told Beach about her children or criminal history.

She told investigators that Beach later asked her to return. The affidavit says Hicks claimed that she went to the home Nov. 29 and found him dead in an empty home.

OSBI Special Agent Dannie Sanders wrote in the affidavit that Hicks then claimed that two men had been in the house when she arrived that day, and they assaulted her and left the house before she found Beach’s body.

Investigators say that Beach’s friends helped him remove Hicks from his will, bank account and retirement plants after she moved out of his home, but she was not aware of that.