TUCSON, Ariz. (Court TV/Scripps News Tucson) — An Arizona woman is facing charges after allegedly trying to kill her husband by poisoning his coffee.
Melody Felicano Johnson is accused of pouring bleach in Roby Johnson’s coffee, according to court documents.
This booking photo provided by the Pima County Sheriff’s Office shows Melody Felicano Johnson, accused of poisoning her husband’s coffee. (Pima County Sheriff’s Office)
Roby, who serves in the U.S. Air Force, noticed his coffee began tasting bad while stationed in Germany. In a statement, he says he started buying chemical testing strips, which showed traces of bleach.
He then set up a camera while in Germany, which he says showed Melody pouring something into his coffee.
Roby also claims Melody would prep his coffee pot at night, so that it would be ready in the morning. He says he stopped drinking the coffee in Germany and didn’t want to make a report while in another country.
The couple returned the U.S. in June, and then settled at Tuscon’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in July.
They were placed into temporary housing at a hotel on base. Roby claims he then set up a camera again and captured Melody walking to his coffee maker and pouring something into the reservoir.
On July 6th, he went to Tucson Police and filed a report that his wife had been trying to poison him by pouring bleach into his coffee.
Since the video didn’t show clearly what Melody was pouring into the coffee maker the report was taken with no follow-up.
Roby then purchased additional cameras that looked like fire alarms. In his statement he says he installed a camera in the laundry room where the bleach was kept as well as one above the coffee maker.
After collecting multiple videos including one on July 18th, he says video shows Melody taking bleach, pouring it into a container then walking over to the coffee maker and pouring it inside.
Roby states he’s the only one to drink from the coffee maker.
A search warrant was then served on the home, where liquid inside of the coffee maker smelled like bleach. Authorities say a container inside of Melody’s bedroom under her bathroom sink was located and also smelled like bleach. The container also was found with a small amount of liquid inside of it.
Both Roby and Melody had separate bedrooms and bathrooms inside of the home.
Documents say, Roby believes she was trying to kill him to collect death benefits.
A Grand Jury has indicted Melody Johnson on four charges, including: Attempt to commit first degree murder, domestic violence, aggravated assault-serious physical injury, domestic violence, and adding poison or harmful substance to food or drink.
A court hearing is set for September. Melody is being held on $250,000 cash or secured bond.
This story was originally published by Scripps News Tucson, an E.W. Scripps Company.
