Missouri woman accused of poisoning husband with toxic plant charged with attempted murder

2024-12-26 00:52:46 source:lotradecoin referral category:Contact

A Missouri woman accused of poisoning her husband has been charged with attempted murder, officials said Wednesday. 

The Jefferson County Police Department said in a statement that its officers investigated a call "involving allegations of intentional poisoning of a spouse" on Jan. 16. The victim told officers that he believed his unexplained illness was actually due to poisoning by his wife, identified by CBS affiliate KRCG as 37-year-old Sarah Scheffer. 

According to court documents reviewed by KRCG, the man said he was suspicious of his wife and thought she had been putting substances in his food and drinks for about six weeks. He experienced symptoms of fatigue, confusion, blurred vision, dry mouth and nausea. 

Sarah Scheffer Cole County Jail

He also told police that he saw a bag labeled "Lily of the Valley" on a table in their home. He also saw a green bowl with what he said was a root from the bag. The man showed police a photo of the bowl, and a video of Scheffer making a smoothie using its contents. The man brought the smoothie to law enforcement. It was submitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Laboratory for testing. 

Police said in the news release that a "search of a national poison control center indicated all parts of the substance used contain numerous cardiac glycosides, which slow down the heart and cause irregular heart rhythm." The substance also could cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. According to online information posted by Mount Sinai, lily of the valley can cause symptoms including lethargy, confusion, blurred vision and nausea, along with dozens of other symptoms. 

Police said that when they interviewed Scheffer, she admitted to putting lily of the valley in her husband's food and knowing that it was illegal and would cause harm. 

In addition to attempted murder, Scheffer has been charged with armed criminal action. 

Scheffer was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Cole County Jail at 7:46 p.m.  

    In:
  • Crime
Kerry Breen

Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.

Twitter

More:Contact

Recommend

Billboard Music Awards 2024: Complete winners list, including Taylor Swift's historic night

Now that our Spotifys have been unwrapped, the 2024 Billboard Music Awards have uncloaked our collec

2024 NFL mock draft: Four QBs in top five as Vikings trade up after Kirk Cousins leaves

Until free agency begins, NFL mock drafts are little more than an entertaining thought exercise.But

45 states are now covered by a climate action plan. These 5 opted out.

It's been a year since the EPA began the first phase of a plan to help states, major metropolitan ar