Indiana Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Spiking Wife's Drink with Drugs in Murder Plot

An Indiana man has been sentenced to four years in prison for attempting to kill his wife by spiking her drinks with various drugs, including cocaine. Alfred W. Ruf, 71, pled guilty to aggravated battery posing a risk of death. The court dismissed the charge of conspiracy to commit murder as part of a plea deal.

The case first came to light in 2022 when Ruf's wife, Lisa Bishop, expressed her concerns during a welfare check at their Richmond home. Bishop revealed to the police that she had been hospitalized several times and suspected that Ruf was trying to kill her. The probable cause affidavit revealed that Ruf confessed to drugging his wife "because he felt bad."

Bishop provided officers with a pill bottle containing a white powdery substance and a Coca-Cola can that she had drunk from, both of which tested positive for cocaine, MDMA, and benzodiazepine. Despite denying drug use, the evidence pointed towards Ruf's incrimination.

Defense Claims and Allegations

Ruf's attorney argued that Ruf and Bishop had a tumultuous marriage, citing instances of domestic violence and claiming that Bishop had previously assaulted Ruf. However, the attorney acknowledged that visitations from police to their home due to domestic disputes were not uncommon.

Ruf allegedly told police officers that his wife's daughter from a previous relationship had provided him with the substance to put in Bishop's drink, claiming that it would induce long periods of unconsciousness. Furthermore, Ruf allegedly stated that the daughter had alluded to a life insurance policy Bishop had and urged him to "get mom out of the picture."

Despite these accusations, the attorney for Ruf disputed the claims of drugging motivated by sexual desires and the daughter's involvement. Ruf maintained that the drugging was orchestrated by his wife's daughter and her friend, a claim that the daughter reportedly denied.

Extent of the Drugging and Consequences

According to Ruf, he had administered the drug to Bishop about twelve times between September and December 2021, resulting in six hospital visits due to her adverse reactions. Despite the evident risks and consequences, Ruf's actions continued over several months.

As a result, Ruf was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by five years of probation. During this period, the police continued their investigation into two other individuals, namely the daughter and friend, but no arrests or charges had been made against them at the time of Ruf's sentencing.