An Arizona woman is facing attempted murder charges after trying to kill her husband with poisoned coffee.
Melody Felicano Johnson of Tucson was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree attempted murder, attempting to commit aggravated assault and poisoning food or drink. She was arrested on July 18.
Melody was accused of poisoning her husband Roby Johnson’s coffee every day for months.
Melody’s husband serves in the U.S. Air Force. He reportedly first noticed a “foul taste” in his coffee in March when stationed in Germany with his wife.
Roby had the bright idea to use pool testing strips and his coffee revealed very high levels of chlorine. This prompted Roby to use a hidden camera and find out his wife was taking bleach, pouring it into a container, and then pouring it into the coffee maker.
Roby set up multiple cameras that looked like fire alarms to the ceiling. A camera was placed in the laundry room, a second over the coffee machine, and a third was placed to show walking between the two areas.
Roby told investigators that he played along and pretended to keep drinking the coffee. He did this until it was time for him to return to the States to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base before filing a police report.
The couple were living together with their child, but were in the midst of a divorce at the time.
Investigators stated that Roby believed she was trying to kill him to collect death benefits.
Melody entered a not guilty plea at Friday’s arraignment and is being held at Pima County Jail with a bond set at $250,000. Prosecutors told the judge a high bond was necessary as Melody recently bought a house in the Philippines and is considered a flight risk.
A court date scheduled for September 6 is the suspect’s next court appearance.
