Anthony Novellino, 63, was arrested at a hotel in Puyallup, Wash., Thursday night on a warrant accusing him of making terroristic threats against his former wife's divorce lawyer.
He was held in jail pending an extradition hearing. It was not clear whether he had an attorney.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi had described Novellino as a "person of interest" in the death of 62-year-old Judith Novellino. She was found dead Saturday by their adult daughter in the Denville, N.J., home that they shared.
It appeared the English teacher at Morris Catholic High School and her killer were involved in "a violent struggle," Bianchi said.
The couple divorced two weeks ago after 37 years of marriage. Judith Novellino cited "irreconcilable differences" in court papers.
Her funeral was scheduled for Saturday at St. Ann Church in Parsippany, N.J.
Detectives from New Jersey traveled to Washington state to continue the homicide investigation.
