Woman Charged with Spiking Husband's Drink with Weed Killer and Insecticide in Missouri

Lebanon, Missouri - Michelle Y. Peters, 47, has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action after allegedly spiking her husband’s Mountain Dew with Roundup weed killer and insecticide. The incidents occurred in May and June, and she was arrested on Monday following an investigation by the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office.

Peters is accused of secretly adding Roundup to her husband’s 2-liter bottles of Mountain Dew stored in their garage refrigerator, as well as lacing the beverage with insecticide. The victim began to suspect foul play after feeling ill, and video evidence shows Peters tampering with the Mountain Dew bottles. Her husband reported experiencing symptoms such as a sore throat, coughing up brown and yellow mucus, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting after consuming the contaminated drink.

The accused is currently being held at the Laclede County Detention Center without bond and has been charged with multiple felonies. She allegedly confessed to the act, stating that she did it to be “mean” after feeling unappreciated by her husband following his 50th birthday party.

Victim’s Testimony

Although the victim's name has been redacted in official documents, he reported detecting an odd taste in the Mountain Dew on May 1 but continued to consume it. His symptoms worsened over time, leading to concerns about his health. Additionally, he mentioned that the taste of the drink from the garage refrigerator differed from the one in their home refrigerator.

The victim’s statement also indicates that Michelle Peters was seen on video bringing a two-liter Diet Mountain Dew out of the refrigerator and swapping it with a bottle of Roundup, which she then returned to the garage. These actions were captured in footage from June 12.

Legal Implications and Investigations

The consequences of consuming Roundup, a weed killer containing Glyphosate, were outlined in the probable cause statement, citing symptoms such as increased saliva, burns, pain in the mouth and throat, as well as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The substance has also been linked to fatalities.

Authorities have indicated that Michelle Peters acknowledged relationship issues with her husband and financial discrepancies, but denied infidelity allegations and any intention to collect her husband's life insurance policy. The case is ongoing, and the accused is currently in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.