Judge finds enough evidence for man to stand trial for potentially putting heroin in his wife’s cereal.
It’s well-known the nation is in the midst of an opioid crisis and heroin use continues to be at the center of it all. Fueled mainly by both fentanyl and heroin, opioid overdose deaths are on the rise in some of the northern state like Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Fatal overdoses from heroin were, for the most part, the biggest problem in the north and northeast. Many cases involve addicts originally hooked on prescription medication who turned to heroin because it’s cheaper and easier to get.
No one expects to overdose after a loved one spikes their food or drink, though. And yet, that’s exactly what happened to Michigander Christina Ann-Thompson Harris, 36, prosecutors claimed, after her husband, Jason Harris, allegedly spiked her bowl of cereal with heroin. After being originally arrested on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, solicitation of murder and delivery of a controlled substance causing death, the judge ordered Harris, 44, to stand trial for her murder. He has pleaded not guilty.
Judge Christopher Odette said he “found enough evidence” to send Jason Harris to trial after a hearing that extended several days. The medical examiner had originally classified the woman’s death as an accidental overdose, but investigators now believe she was poisoned at their home in Davison, Michigan. They content he fed Christina a bowl of cereal and milk the night before she passed which contained heroin. Harris originally told investigators his wife hadn’t slept well the night before and coughed because she was coming down with cold symptoms, according to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
Harris’ co-workers told investigators he had been looking for a hit man, and had allegedly hired one for $5000, but the individual was arrested and unable to carry out the work. David Groshong said Harris “approached him for drugs so his wife would go to sleep and quit nagging.” Harris’ siblings said he spoke of “getting rid of his wife.”
Harris had a motive to get rid of his wife, according to prosecutors. Coworkers said he was unhappy in his marriage but didn’t want to go through with a divorce because he didn’t want to deal with alimony, child support payments and child custody issues. He even moved another woman into this home just two months after Christina’s death and allegedly collected $120,000 in life insurance.
Christina’s mother also told police she was at the at the Harris’ house that night and her daughter seemed to be in good health. The next morning, Jason called a neighbor and asked her to check on her while he was not at home, which was also somewhat unusual had his wife just been suffering from cold symptoms. The neighbor found Christina unresponsive in bed and called another neighbor, who is a nurse. This individual came over and declared Christina dead.
Leyton said the victim “incredibly loving mother” who had just given birth to the couple’s second child. Her friends were shocked to hear about an overdose, and they told investigators she never used drugs.
Sources:
Man charged with killing wife by spiking cereal with heroin
One Region Is Being Hit Hardest by U.S. Opioid Crisis
Man faces murder trial for allegedly poisoning wife’s cereal
Davison man accused of poisoning wife, trying to hire hit man
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