A Wisconsin couple have been charged in a plot to kill two ladies with cyanide, and several other investigators monitoring the pair have been hospitalized after coming into contact with the poison, in response to prosecutors and studies.
Paul VanDuyne and Andrea Whitaker are accused of making poisons and utilizing them in an elaborate try and homicide two totally different ladies who have been ex-girlfriend’s of VanDuyne, in response to the Wisconsin Justice Division.
Prosecutors allege VanDuyne broke into a girl’s automotive in a Middleton Costco parking zone final month and contaminated her water bottle with cyanide.
She discovered individuals outdoors her automotive telling her that the automotive had been tampered with, though she didn’t discover something flawed on the time, Fox 47 reported.
She did discover the water tasted humorous, the outlet reported.
Two weeks later, the identical factor is alleged to have occurred once more. This time, the lady introduced the bottle to the police, who examined it and confirmed it contained cyanide.
Across the similar time, one other lady in Rock County was hospitalized after ingesting cyanide-tainted water present in her automotive after a gymnasium go to.
Each alleged victims briefly dated VanDuyne, prosecutors stated.
VanDuyne was arrested Sunday after the hazmat-linked investigations and after authorities caught him allegedly attempting to assist cowl up proof.
Police had been monitoring VanDuyne however have been compelled to maneuver shortly when he tried to contact the Rock County lady final weekend. He was arrested and booked Sunday.
Whereas in jail, VanDuyne referred to as Whitaker and requested her to take away gadgets from his home, prosecutors stated.
Brokers intercepted her leaving along with her belongings. When looking her cellphone, they discovered a number of messages between the couple discussing totally different poisons.
Prosecutors imagine the pair have been planning to homicide VanDuyne’s ex-girlfriends with poison.
No less than seven state investigators on the case have been hospitalized for attainable publicity to the poison, WISN.com reported.
The outlet reported that Dane County Assistant District Lawyer William Brown revealed Whitaker’s on-line historical past included searches for “Does potassium cyanide cloud water?” and “Sodium cyanide odor, sodium cyanide.”
Searches additionally included “What does cyanide seem like?” and “Cyanide deadly,” he stated.
VanDuyne and Whitaker face prices in Rock County of tried murder, aggravated battery, reckless endangerment and stalking — all involving a harmful weapon.
In Dane County, VanDuyne faces extra prices for tried murder and stalking, whereas Whitaker can also be accused of serving to him and attempting to cowl it up.
Seven companies have been concerned within the investigation, together with the Wisconsin Division of Justice’s Division of Prison Investigation, the Rock County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories and the FBI.
