Wisconsin woman faces prison for poisoning veterinarian husband with animal drugs

A Wisconsin woman is facing more than a decade behind bars after pleading no contest to spiking her 71-year-old veterinarian husband's coffee with animal euthanasia drugs, ultimately putting him in a coma, according to police.

Plea Deal and Charges

Amanda Alicia Chapin, 51, pleaded no contest to a charge of felony first-degree reckless endangering the safety of Gary Chapin. The charge was downgraded from first-degree attempted homicide in a plea deal with Lafayette County prosecutors.

Poisoning Incidents and Marriage

Chapin allegedly put barbiturates she stole from her husband in his coffee three times between July and August 2022, shortly after their marriage in March of that year. She also forged one of her husband's children’s signatures on a power of attorney document and insisted on amending the deed to his house to ensure that she would be the sole homeowner in the event of his death.

Relationship and Coma

Chapin met her 70-year-old husband online, and their relationship was described as "fairly stormy from the beginning." The third and final dose of the drugs put Gary Chapin into a four-day coma, and his blood work revealed the same drugs used to put animals down in his system. Chapin waited three hours to call 911 when he wouldn't wake up.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Chapin pleaded no contest to felony charges of reckless endangerment of safety in Lafayette County Circuit Court. She faces a maximum of 12.5 years in a state correctional facility. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 15.