Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly poisoning her husband’s energy drink with prescription medications, according to police. The incident occurred in North Carolina, where Gates is reported to have conducted extensive research via ChatGPT to identify drug combinations capable of causing incapacitation or physical helplessness before purchasing materials to execute the plan. Investigators found evidence of her actions at her home, including a capsule filling kit, syringes, medical droppers, medications, and scales, according to The New York Post.
Gates is accused of also placing a tracking device on her husband’s vehicle and breaking his window. She was arrested last week and denied bond by the court. Gates’ husband reportedly discovered the foreign substance in his drink on July 12 and August 18, with the couple living separately at the time of the incident. The school district where Gates previously worked as a pediatric occupational therapist did not immediately respond to media inquiries regarding her current employment status. At the time of her arrest, she was employed in that capacity.
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to media requests for comment. Gates is scheduled to appear in court on October 30, according to WBTV. Fox News Digital was unable to locate an attorney representing Gates. This case is part of a series of reported incidents involving individuals allegedly attempting to poison family members, including a Connecticut mother charged with attempted murder after poisoning her husband with antifreeze and a Colorado dentist accused of drugging his wife years before an alleged poisoning murder. The case highlights the increasing use of technology in planning such crimes.