ELIZABETH — William Parisio, awaiting trial in a murder case that led to a law outlawing "bath salts," died in the Union County jail this morning, authorities said.

The cause of his death is still under investigation, Union County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Mark Spivey said.

Parisio, 25, was charged with killing his girlfriend, Rutgers University senior Pamela Schmidt, in his Cranford home in March 2011. Authorities said he struck Schmidt with a 12-pound dumbbell and strangled her.

Shortly after Schmidt's death, Parisio's mother, Diane, said her son had used bath salts, so-called designer drugs that have nothing to do with bathing but can mimic methamphetamines, powerful stimulants that cause severe psychotic episodes.

When contacted tonight, she declined comment.

In August 2011, Gov. Chris Christie signed "Pamela's Law," a measure named for the 22-year-old Warren Township woman, outlawing bath salts.

However, a month later, the Union County Prosecutor's Office released toxicology tests revealing there was no trace of bath salts in Parisio's system.

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