Tucson, Ariz. (13News) – A woman has been charged with attempted murder after she allegedly tried to kill her husband by poisoning his coffee.
Melody Felicano Johnson, 39, was arrested last week in Tucson on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and adding toxic substances to food, beverages, and medicines.
Johnson is being held on $250,000 bail, but was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on Friday, August 4.
According to court documents, Johnson and her husband have children but are considering divorce.
Johnson’s husband is in the Air Force and was stationed in Germany until recently returning to Davis-Monthan in Tucson.
Mr Johnson’s husband said he noticed Mr Johnson’s coffee tasted worse since he went to Germany in March 2023.
He said he drank coffee for a few weeks before deciding to check his water supply with pool test strips.
The man, who is unidentified, said he tested the tap water and found nothing abnormal. According to the interlocutory complaint, the coffee pot was tested and found to have high levels of chlorine.
In May, the man said he installed a camera at his home in Germany and caught his wife putting something in the coffee pot.
The man told investigators that he had stopped drinking coffee, but pretended not to. He said he didn’t say anything to law enforcement because he didn’t want to report it while in Germany.
On June 28, the Johnson family returned to Tucson and were placed in temporary housing at the on-base hotel.
The man set up another camera and again caught his wife pouring something into the coffee pot, according to the documents.
On July 6, he filed a complaint with the Tucson Police Department. TPD said a report was filed but no follow-up was done because the video was blurry and it was not possible to tell what she was doing.
The man then bought another camera that looked like a fire alarm and mounted it on the ceiling.
On July 7, the family moved into a permanent residence, where the man installed a camera.
On July 18, the man filmed multiple videos for TPD showing Mr Johnson pouring bleach into the coffee machine, according to the complaint.
When Johnson was taken into custody, she exercised her right to an attorney immediately, but was not questioned.
The TPD said the coffee maker smelled like bleach and a small container of possible bleach was found under Johnson’s bathroom sink. Johnson and her husband had separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
Johnson’s family is in the Philippines, and he recently purchased a house in the Philippines, which required a large security deposit.
The man told investigators he believed his wife tried to kill him to get the benefits.
Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@13newskold
Copyright 2023 13 News. all rights reserved.
