Woman Accused of Trying Poison Husband Four Times Before Death

An Indiana woman is accused of trying to poison her mother’s husband four times before his death in December 2022.

Ashley Jones, 30, was charged with killing Harold Allen, 52, accused of putting ethylene glycol, most commonly found in anti-freeze, in his root beer float.

Her mother, Marsha Allen, is also suspected of being involved, after Jones reportedly implicated her following her death.

Recently filed court documents revealed that the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department has added two attempted murder charges to Jones’ existing charges, citing alleged emails with her mother that investigators say suggest there were previous plots and attempts to end Allen’s life.

When authorities were alerted of Allen’s death in Freetown, Jackson County, in December 2022, they did not initially suspect foul play, FOX59 reported.

This changed in October 2023 when Marsha Allen died and Jones, at the time jailed in relation to a burglary, reportedly told authorities her mother had poisoned her husband with the substance which Jones had purchased.

The outlet reports that in July authorities received the contents of two email accounts they believe belonged to Jones, and say can be linked to the purchasing of the ethylene glycol. Prosecutors also say they accessed email correspondence believed to be between Allen and her mother.

Investigators say the mother and daughter duo previously tried to poison Allen by placing pong pong seeds, bought from a seller on eBay, in a brownie and chili, which resulted in visits to the emergency room in November 2022.

Native to Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Australia, pong pong seeds yield a poison known as cerberin which causes disfunction in cardiac activity and is often used in suicides and poisonings.

Prosecutors say Marsha Allen then purchased water hemlock, a toxic plant, in December 2022, which she placed in a chili, a glass of soda, and a margarita during that month, before allegedly using ethylene glycol to kill her husband.

Following the filing of the most recent court documents at Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jones has officially been charged with two counts of attempted murder (level one felony), one count of conspiracy to commit murder (level one felony), one count of consumer product tampering (level four felony), and two counts of murder, as reported by Fox59.

Jones’ trial is scheduled to begin on January 7, 2025, according to court documents obtained by Fox59.

Newsweek reached out to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department for comment via a form on their website.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact Li******@******ek.com.