Police have taken a Northern California man into custody for his wife’s alleged fentanyl-laced food poisoning death earlier in 2023.
The suspect, identified as Glennis Smith, deliberately spiked his wife’s food with the drug without her knowing on at least two separate occasions, CBS Sacramento reported July 27, citing the Elk Grove Police Department.
The case initially came to light when Smith called 911 Jan. 12 to report that his wife, Jennifer Smith-Floyd, was “unconscious and not breathing,” the outlet continued.
Despite medical aid provided by emergency authorities, the 49-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to CBS Sacramento. Investigators later concluded fatal amounts of fentanyl were present in her system at the time of her death. (RELATED: Authorities Execute Chinese Kindergarten Teacher Who Poisoned Students’ Food, Killing One)
A motive for the alleged murder remains unclear. The married couple had been living apart for several months at the time of Smith-Floyd’s death, the outlet reported.
Elk Grove police say a man poisoned his wife twice with the second time proving to be fatal.https://t.co/vCLPhfUgz3
— FOX40 News (@FOX40) July 28, 2023
Circumstances surrounding the case became increasingly suspicious when Smith was directly linked to an arson involving the couple’s trailer some months after Jennifer’s death, according to CBS Sacramento.
Following his arrest Wednesday, Glennis Smith was booked at the Sacramento County Main Jail on charges of murder, arson and insurance fraud, local outlet KCRA3 reported.
The suspect is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court at 3 p.m. Friday, according to CBS Sacramento.