Part-time teacher in Jefferson City charged with attempted murder for husband’s alleged poisoning
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that Scheffer was a part-time employee at Calvary Lutheran who was placed on leave.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Jefferson City woman was charged with attempted murder and armed criminal action after she allegedly poisoned her husband.
Sarah Scheffer, 37, of Jefferson City, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree domestic assault. A probable cause statement said her husband told police he had been ill for about six weeks.
The man contacted Jefferson City police Tuesday saying he believed his wife had been poisoning him, according to a news release. The woman admitted after her arrest to adding substances to the man's food with the knowledge it could kill him or make him ill, the Jefferson City Police Department said.
The substance she used contained cardiac glycosides, a substance used in a class of drugs meant to treat irregular heartbeats, police say. Signs of toxicity include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
"I mean if you eat enough of that in a short period of time you can see signs relatively quickly," said Veterinary Toxicologist at MU College of Veterinary Medicine Tim Evans. "But it all depends on what part of the plant and how much of it is consumed."
According to Evans, the most toxic part of the plant are the roots.
The victim told police that he remembered eight occasions when he'd eaten or drunk something that tasted strange and then became sick, the statement says. He confronted Scheffer about it on New Year's Day and then installed a hidden surveillance camera, according to the statement.
The camera showed Scheffer getting a substance out of a bag labeled "lily of the valley" and adding it to his smoothies, the statement says. Scheffer allegedly admitted to putting the substance in his smoothies knowing that it would be toxic to her husband.
Director of the Missouri Poison Center Julie Weber said cases of exposure to the plant across Missouri has been relatively low over the years. There have been roughly 51 cases in the state since 2000 and five reports in 2023, according to Weber.
"We did have five inquiries about exposures, more often in children who had ingested some of the berries or chewed on a plant," Weber said.
Scheffer was in the Cole County Jail on Wednesday on a no-bond arrest warrant. No hearings had been set in her case, according to online court records.
Scheffer was listed as a design and art teacher on Calvary Lutheran High School's website on Wednesday afternoon. She was not listed on the school's website on Friday afternoon. Scheffer taught two classes at the school and was considered a part-time employee, according to a Friday email from Calvary Lutheran Executive Director John Christman. Christman also stated that Scheffer has been placed on leave.
ABC 17 News reached out to the school earlier on Wednesday and the school responded with a statement.
"This afternoon, Calvary Lutheran High School was notified by JCPD of a criminal matter pertaining to an employee. The alleged conduct was outside of the employee’s association with the school and did not involve a student or any other school personnel," Christman said in the statement. "As a Christian community, Calvary Lutheran High School believes in protecting the well-being of all individuals who are part of our programs and we seek to respond in a caring and sensitive manner to everyone in our school community. With this in mind, consistent action has been taken in response to the notification, including the employee being placed on leave."
The Missouri Poison Hotline is available 24 hours, seven days a week and can be utilized to speak with specialists, regardless of if a person has been exposed.
