Pennsylvania Detective Seeks Divorce After Wife Spotted In Capitol Riot Videos

A Pennsylvania police detective has filed for divorce after his wife was seen in videos participating in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. The woman reportedly had been in touch with another riot accused, who was also seen in the videos, since November.

The Shaler Township Police Department detective, Michael Heinl, filed the divorce papers in February. Police Chief Sean Frank said Michael had asked his wife, Jennifer Marie Heinl, to not attend the rallies organized by Trump supporters in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6. Despite that, she attended the riots, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Police have slapped a number of federal charges on Jennifer, which include parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Jennifer was identified after she was spotted in videos talking to another riot accused, Kenneth Grayson, at the Capitol Rotunda. Grayson was arrested on Jan. 26 from Pennsylvania in connection with the Capitol insurrection.

Investigators found evidence about Grayson and Jennifer's connection from the former's Facebook page. They reportedly had been communicating with one another since November. The two had discussed going to the rallies, as well as renting hotel rooms and vehicles.

Frank said Michael, who is part of the Violent Crimes Task Force of the FBI's Pittsburgh office, alerted them about his wife's presence at the riots after they took place. Michael "didn't condone it," and "he didn't ask her to go there. He wasn't there. He was here working," the police chief told Post-Gazette.

According to an affidavit, Jennifer told investigators that she traveled to the capital alone on Jan. 5 and returned home the next day. She told the FBI that she stayed in a separate hotel and not where Grayson was staying.

Jennifer admitted to meeting Grayson at the rally, but she denies entering the Capitol on that day.