A Wisconsin woman, Amanda Alicia Chapin, 51, is facing a potential sentence of more than a decade in prison for poisoning her 71-year-old veterinarian husband, Gary Chapin. The disturbing incident involved Chapin spiking her husband's coffee with animal euthanasia drugs multiple times shortly after their wedding, ultimately leading to him falling into a coma.
Chapin pleaded no contest to a charge of felony first-degree reckless endangering the safety of her husband in a Wisconsin Circuit Court. The initial charge of first-degree attempted homicide was downgraded as part of a plea deal with Lafayette County prosecutors.
According to reports, Chapin allegedly put barbiturates stolen from her husband into his coffee on three separate occasions between July and August 2022. The couple had married in March of the same year, and Chapin went as far as forging one of her husband's children's signatures on a power of attorney document. She also convinced her husband to amend the deed to their house, ensuring she would be the sole homeowner in case of his death.
The toxic substances in the coffee caused Gary Chapin to fall into a coma that lasted four days. Medical tests revealed the presence of the same drugs used for euthanizing animals in his system. Despite her husband's critical condition, Chapin reportedly delayed calling 911 for three hours. She even accessed his personal email account and forwarded herself conversations with his attorney and children.
Following the incident, Gary Chapin's son filed a restraining order against Amanda Chapin, suspecting her involvement in his father's medical emergency. In a disturbing turn of events, Chapin violated the restraining order by sending her husband a suicide note, claiming she was being unfairly targeted by his children.
Chapin's sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 15, with a maximum possible sentence of 12.5 years in a state correctional facility. The case has shocked the community and shed light on the complexities of the relationship between the couple, which was described as tumultuous from the start.
