A Wisconsin couple accused of attempting to poison the man’s ex-girlfriends with cyanide is at the center of a multiagency investigation that has put several agents in the hospital.
Paul Van Duyne, 43, and Andrea Whitaker, 41, are in custody at the Dane County Jail after being charged with multiple felonies in connection with hazmat investigations across Wisconsin.
Van Duyne is charged with stalking and two counts of attempted first-degree murder, while Whitaker is charged with harboring and aiding a felon and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
During Whitaker’s bail hearing on Wednesday, Dane County Assistant District Attorney William Brown informed the court that her search history revealed several cyanide-related inquiries, including “What does cyanide look like?”
Other alleged searches included: “Cyanide lethal dose?” followed by “Does potassium cyanide cloud water?”
WMTV, a local NBC affiliate, was in the courtroom for Whitaker’s hearing, where Brown explained the charges against her.
According to WMTV, Brown stated that Van Duyne allegedly attempted to kill two of his ex-girlfriends with cyanide and enlisted Whitaker to help him cover up evidence, saying, “It does appear that this defendant and Mr. Van Duyne have started dating and apparently created this plot to kill his ex-girlfriends by poisoning them with cyanide valium poisons.”
Local ABC affiliate WISN was also in the courtroom when Brown revealed Whitaker’s internet search history, stating, “Does potassium cyanide cloud water?’ ‘Sodium cyanide odor, sodium cyanide.'” She repeatedly searches for different types of poisons. ‘What does cyanide look like?’ ‘Cyanide lethal dose?'”
According to Brown, the investigation into Van Duyne’s activities has been ongoing for more than a month, with agencies including the FBI and the Wisconsin National Guard working alongside the Middleton Police Department, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Janesville Police Department.
According to Brown, seven agents from the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Department of Criminal Investigation who were involved in the case were hospitalized after being exposed to the substances discovered while conducting a search warrant in three different locations.
Brown spoke in court about what happened to two of Van Duyne’s alleged targets.
About a month ago, a woman left a Costco in Middleton, Wisconsin, and returned to her car, only to find it surrounded by people who informed her that it had been broken into.
When she drank from a water bottle she had left in the car, she noticed an unusual taste and spit it out.
Brown stated that the water bottle was tested at the state crime lab and found to contain cyanide.
Brown also cited the case of a woman in Rock County, which includes Janesville, Wisconsin, who was hospitalized after drinking from a water bottle she kept in her car and seeing a powdery substance.
Brown said both women had previously dated Van Duyne. Brown stated to the jury: “So while it does appear that Mr. Van Duyne was perhaps the actual person that was entering both victims vehicles and putting the cyanide in the water bottles, and in at least Rock County putting cyanide powder in the air vents, I think [Whitaker’s] involvement is absolutely clear in that she is likely the brains of the operation in figuring out how to do this.” Whitaker holds a pharmacology degree, according to Brown.
Van Duyne was arrested on Sunday in Rock County after being tracked to the woman’s Janesville home. Brown claimed that Van Duyne “forced everyone’s hand” by showing up after the alleged attempt to poison her.
Regarding Whitaker, Brown stated that Van Duyne called her while he was in jail and asked her to remove evidence from his home, which included a laptop and possibly poisonous substances.
Search warrants were executed at both of their homes, as well as an address Van Duyne listed on a recent restraining order dated May 22.
Whitaker’s bond was set at $750,000, and she was ordered not to contact Van Duyne. Both suspects were set to appear in court on Friday.
