A surge in poison-related attacks on domestic partners has prompted a rare national warning from the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS is alerting law enforcement nationwide to a growing pattern of people using chemical and biological toxins to harm or kill intimate partners. A January bulletin from DHS’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office documented 17 poisoning cases last year, resulting in at least 11 deaths.
Officials say the trend reflects both the sharp increase in domestic partnerships (vs traditional marriages), as well as an increased availability of toxic and poisonous substances.
Investigators found the most commonly used substances included antifreeze, eye drops, fentanyl, and prescription drugs like colchicine. Other cases involved cyanide and thallium. DHS said these substances are often chosen because they can mimic natural illnesses, delaying diagnosis and complicating criminal investigations.
The bulletin cited a recent Colorado case in which a dentist was convicted of first-degree murder after poisoning his wife over several days. Prosecutors said he secretly added arsenic, cyanide, and eye-drop chemicals to her protein shakes before delivering a fatal dose in the hospital.
DHS urged law enforcement and medical professionals to treat unexplained illnesses in domestic settings with heightened caution, noting that early detection can save lives.
