A Wisconsin couple faces multiple charges, accused of orchestrating a chilling plot to poison and potentially kill the man’s former girlfriends, drawing significant legal ramifications.
At a Glance
- Paul VanDuyne Jr., 43, and his girlfriend, Andrea Whitaker, 41, face multiple charges, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
- The couple is accused of repeatedly trying to poison two of VanDuyne’s ex-girlfriends in Rock and Dane counties.
- The alleged methods involved lacing water bottles with cyanide and thallium and placing other poisons in the victims’ cars.
- The investigation itself proved hazardous, with seven state law enforcement agents being hospitalized after exposure to chemicals at a suspect’s property.
A Diabolical Plot Uncovered
Wisconsin prosecutors have charged Paul VanDuyne Jr. and Andrea Whitaker in what is described as an elaborate and sinister plot to murder two of VanDuyne’s former girlfriends. The couple allegedly conspired to obtain and create multiple deadly poisons, which they then used in repeated attempts to harm the women.
According to criminal complaints filed in both Rock and Dane counties, the alleged plot involved stalking the victims, breaking into their cars, and contaminating them with a variety of toxic substances. The methods included lacing water bottles with cyanide and thallium, placing homemade abrin (a deadly toxin made from rosary peas) in a car’s ventilation system, and leaving a container of hydrogen sulfide gas in another vehicle. One victim and her minor sister both became ill after exposure to the gas, and the victim was later hospitalized, according to People.
A Dangerous Investigation
The multi-agency investigation, which involved the FBI and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, highlighted the extreme danger of the materials involved. During the execution of search warrants at properties connected to the couple, seven agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) had to be hospitalized after being exposed to hazardous substances.
As reported by WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, investigators discovered rosary pea seeds and a notebook with the chemical formula for abrin at VanDuyne’s home. The criminal complaint also cites text messages between VanDuyne and Whitaker discussing the acquisition of thallium.
A Raft of Felony Charges
The couple now faces a long list of felony charges across two counties. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, charges in Rock County for both suspects include three counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and stalking resulting in bodily harm.
In Dane County, VanDuyne faces two additional counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and stalking, while Whitaker is charged as a party to those crimes and with aiding a felon. The chilling details of the case, which involve a Princeton-educated engineer and a pharmacology student allegedly weaponizing their knowledge, have captured national attention. Both remain in custody on multi-million-dollar bonds.
