Kristen Hogan faces two counts of attempted murder after allegedly contaminating her estranged husband's beverages with antifreeze during a custody dispute.
The 33-year-old Ridgefield woman was arrested Friday on charges including attempted murder and interfering with an officer, according to Connecticut State Police documents. Hogan allegedly used ethylene glycol, the primary component in antifreeze, to poison wine and iced tea at her estranged husband's residence, according to the New York Post.
The victim consumed a small quantity of contaminated wine on August 10 and became severely ill throughout the night. Police believe the poisoning occurred during an ongoing custody battle between the separated couple.
Victim Hospitalized With Life-Threatening Symptoms
The unnamed husband experienced repeated illness and vomiting after drinking wine stored in his refrigerator. His condition deteriorated significantly the following day, prompting his father to recommend seeking immediate medical attention.
His mother discovered him exhibiting severe neurological symptoms, including slurred speech, unsteady movement, and continued vomiting. She immediately transported him to the hospital, where medical staff initially suspected stroke-related complications.
Doctors later identified signs consistent with ethylene glycol poisoning after monitoring his deteriorating condition. The victim required intensive care treatment and dialysis for kidney failure resulting from the toxic exposure.
Digital Evidence Links Suspect To Crime Scene
The contaminated wine bottle had been opened five days earlier during a dinner party before being stored in the refrigerator. Investigators determined the poisoning likely occurred on August 7, when Hogan failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing.
The victim received electronic alerts indicating Hogan's mobile device had connected to his home wireless network and uploaded data. This digital evidence placed her at the residence during the suspected timeframe for the contamination.
Hogan maintained unrestricted access to the property despite their separation and shared custody arrangement. The victim identified her as the only other person with access to his home before consuming the poisoned beverage.
Forensic Testing Confirms Poisoning Allegations
Connecticut Forensic Laboratory analysis of the seized wine bottle returned positive results for ethylene glycol contamination. Digital forensics revealed that Hogan's smartphone contained multiple searches for toxic substances, including potassium cyanide and monoethylene glycol.
Her search history included specific inquiries about lethal dosages of various poisonous chemicals. When confronted about these searches, Hogan claimed confusion about the chemicals and referenced television programming as her source of knowledge.
She admitted purchasing monoethylene glycol in late July but initially claimed it was for carpet cleaning purposes. Hogan repeatedly denied involvement in the poisoning before eventually confessing to investigators.
Confession Reveals Motive And Additional Victims
Hogan ultimately admitted to contaminating her estranged husband's wine with ethylene glycol during police interrogation. She claimed her intention was not murder but rather to cause illness as retaliation for alleged mental abuse.
The suspect stated she poured an unknown quantity of the toxic substance into a mostly full bottle of red wine. She also confessed to tampering with iced tea, admitting that only she knew about the beverage contamination.
Their shared child was hospitalized in late September with symptoms similar to the father's poisoning incident. Police believe the victim's motive centered on gaining full property ownership and complete custody of their child, with Hogan currently held on $1 million bond.
