Couple from Wisconsin accused of planning murder of women known on dating apps
The defendants are Paul VanDuyne Jr., 43, and Andrea Whitaker, 41. Both face multiple charges, including attempted murder.
A couple from the state of Wisconsin was charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to poison two women the man had previously dated. The victims became critically ill after ingesting toxic substances including thallium, cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide, according to court documents. The defendants are Paul VanDuyne Jr., 43, and Andrea Whitaker, 41. Both face multiple charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, stalking, and endangering public safety. Prosecutors have described the case as a “meticulous and calculated plot.” Thallium, a substance banned in the U.S. since the 1970s due to its toxicity, was detected in the system of one of the victims after she was hospitalized in May.
According to the Wisconsin Poison Control Center, the dose found can only be the result of intentional ingestion. The two women had met VanDuyne on dating apps and had brief relationships with him. Later, they began receiving hostile messages and fell victim to strange incidents: contaminated water bottles, suspicious substances in their vehicles, and hidden cameras in front of their homes, NBC News reported.
One of the most alarming episodes occurred when the Rock County victim and his teenage sister fell ill after going to the movies. Detectives found hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that smelled like rotten eggs, in their vehicle.
The other victim, a Dane County resident, discovered water contaminated with cyanide and thallium in his car after an attempted break-in in a Costco parking lot. A witness identified VanDuyne's vehicle at the scene.
Authorities believe Whitaker, who had a background in pharmacology, collaborated with VanDuyne to manufacture and apply the poisons. During the searches, bottles of chemical compounds, rosary pea seeds (used to produce abrin, a dangerous toxin), and a seed grinder were found.
The couple also allegedly tried to tamper with the vehicles' ventilation systems to introduce lethal substances, according to the documents.
The Rock County Sheriff said that without urgent medical intervention, one of the victims likely would have died. “This couple represents a clear danger to the community,” he added.
Bails were set at $10 million for VanDuyne and $4 million for Whitaker. Both remain in custody and have upcoming court appearances scheduled for July and August, respectively.