Wife made sure she would be the sole inheritant before tampering with her husband’s coffee on multiple occasions that put him in a coma for several days
Wisconsin – A 51-year-old Wisconsin woman, identified as A. Chapin is facing severe legal repercussions after admitting to poisoning her 71-year-old husband, G. Chapin, by spiking his coffee with animal euthanasia drugs. This grim saga unfolded shortly after their marriage, leading to a coma and a series of legal battles, encapsulating issues of trust, betrayal, and manipulation within marital confines.
The incident came to light following a series of hospitalizations that baffled doctors until toxicology reports confirmed the presence of lethal barbiturates—commonly used by veterinarians to euthanize animals. Mr. Chapin, a practicing veterinarian, inadvertently provided the means for his own poisoning, as the drugs were stolen from his supplies. According to court documents, Mrs. Chapin administered the toxic substance in his coffee at least three times between July and August 2022. The final dose on August 21 was nearly fatal, putting Mr. Chapin into a four-day-long coma.
The DA’s Office initially charged Mrs. Chapin with first-degree attempted intentional homicide but later agreed to a lesser charge of first-degree reckless endangering safety after she entered a no-contest plea. This plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that there is sufficient evidence for a conviction.
The motives behind the poisoning seem to be rooted in a sinister plot to gain financial control over Mr. Chapin’s assets. Shortly after their marriage in March 2022, Mrs. Chapin began to manipulate her legal standing within the household aggressively. She forged the signature of Mr. Chapin’s son on documents to grant herself power of attorney and subsequently coerced Mr. Chapin into altering his house deed, ensuring she would inherit the property.
Her sinister actions came to a head just two weeks after these changes were made, marking the beginning of her attempts to poison her husband. The subsequent investigation revealed chilling details, including Mrs. Chapin’s attempt to mask the symptoms of poisoning as a stroke, further misleading Mr. Chapin about his deteriorating health.
Following Mr. Chapin’s recovery from the coma, his son, suspecting foul play, secured a restraining order against Mrs. Chapin, effectively barring her from any further contact. This precaution was proven prudent when investigators discovered that Mrs. Chapin had accessed Mr. Chapin’s email and forwarded private communications to herself, blatantly disregarding legal boundaries and privacy.
The complexity of the case deepened when, despite a court order, Mrs. Chapin sent Mr. Chapin a suicidal email professing her innocence and love, only hours before attempting to take her own life. She survived the attempt, and Mr. Chapin filed for divorce immediately afterward.
Mrs. Chapin now awaits her sentencing, scheduled for July 25. The case has been marked by a disturbing blend of premeditated poisoning and legal manipulation, with Mrs. Chapin facing up to 12.5 years in prison if the maximum sentence is imposed.
