DAVISON, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A Michigan man has been charged with murder after investigators concluded he spiked his wife's bowl of cereal with heroin.
The medical examiner initially classified Christina Ann-Thompson Harris' 2014 death as an accidental overdose. But investigators now believe Jason Harris poisoned her at their home in Davison, 60 miles north of Detroit.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton says the 36-year-old victim was an "incredibly loving mother."
Friends were shocked to hear about an overdose and said she never used drugs.
Leyton said Jason Harris' siblings told police that he had talked about "getting rid" of his wife. Co-workers told investigators that Harris had unsuccessful tried to hire a hitman to kill her, and that he'd sought the best substance to use to poison her.
He settled on heroin, Leyton alleges, thinking it would be tasteless and odorless.
Harris appeared in court Tuesday and was denied bond.
His defense attorney, Nicholas Robinson, told The Washington Post that his client maintains his innocence.
“Mr. Harris has mourned the death of his wife since her passing and these charges are devastating to him and the entire family,” Robinson told the Post. “Mr. Harris has been fully cooperative throughout this very long, five year investigation and looks forward to taking advantage of every opportunity to defend against these allegations.”
As for a motive, it's alleged that the defendant wanted life insurance money, and to be with another woman.
According to an online obituary for Christina Ann-Thompson Harris, she was born in Flint, was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, a fan of the Detroit Tigers, and enjoyed crafting, scrapbooking, swimming, spending time with her kids and family game nights.
The charges come a few weeks after a Macomb County man, who admitted to poisoning his wife's coffee, was sentenced to five year probation with some weekends in jail. The victim in that case said she believed her husband had intened to kill her, but failed.