A Utah mother of three who published a children’s book about grief after her husband’s death will stand trial for allegedly fatally poisoning him. The judge ruled that there was enough evidence to proceed with a jury trial.
The woman faces multiple felony charges for allegedly giving her husband a lethal dose of fentanyl in a cocktail, resulting in his death. She maintains her innocence and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors claim that she also attempted to poison her husband on Valentine’s Day by putting fentanyl in his sandwich, causing a severe but nonfatal reaction. They allege that she learned from this failed attempt and successfully carried out the poisoning later.
Text messages and witness statements suggest that the woman purchased fentanyl pills and administered them to her husband. The husband reportedly suspected his wife of poisoning him after experiencing adverse effects and seeking medical help.
Despite the defense's argument that no fentanyl was found in the home, the judge decided to proceed with the trial. The woman had taken out life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge, leading prosecutors to believe that financial gain was a motive.
The woman had self-published a children’s book about coping with loss before her arrest, which prosecutors may use to support their case. The trial is set to begin on April 28, with a pretrial conference scheduled for September 23.
