Domestic bliss

[Lebenz]

Woman accused of serving tainted tacos to husband

PORTLAND — Preliminary charges of attempted murder have been filed against a woman accused of adding rat poison to the tacos she served her husband.
According to an affidavit, Carrie Wheeler, 30, of Portland admitted to a detective that on Sunday she ground up prescription medications and put the drugs in a drink she served her husband, Steve Wheeler, 57.

Wheeler became dizzy.

On Monday, she again ground up prescription medications but threw them away before putting them into any food or beverage. She also told police that about a week or two ago, she mixed rat poison into a meal of tacos and served them to her husband.

Authorities found an empty box of rat poison in the Wheeler home, according to the affidavit. However, they have not disclosed what brand of poison she used, or how much the alleged victim consumed.

Prosecutors plan to seek a grand jury indictment in the case next week. A judge denied Wheeler's release at an arraignment Thursday, and she remains in jail on three preliminary counts of attempted murder — one for each incident.

The affidavit says Wheeler couldn't explain her conduct to detectives.

"She felt terrible and confused after each incident," the affidavit states, and "conflicted by the desire to return to her first divorced husband, yet also wanting to stay with her present husband."

She also could not explain why she didn't simply get a divorce.

"She had taken substantial steps to carry out the plan," said Sgt. Brian Schmautz, spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau. But "detectives were able to intervene before the intended victim was injured."

Authorities first learned about the woman's alleged plan from one of her friends, who told police that Wheeler made repeated statements about intending to kill her husband by tainting his food and drink.

Rat poison rarely kills if ingested in a small amount, said Dr. Zane Horowitz, medical director of the Oregon Poison Center.

[G-Benz]

"Rats", she said.