A 61-year-old Missouri woman has been arrested and charged after allegedly poisoning a family member by spiking his lemonade and tea with rat poison and antifreeze, causing him to become seriously ill.
Barbaray Clinkenbeard faces two counts each of first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, the victim overheard Clinkenbeard admitting to the poisoning during a phone call on Friday and subsequently contacted law enforcement.
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Detectives allege that Clinkenbeard poisoned the victim on two separate occasions, in December and January. The affidavit states that in December, Clinkenbeard found rat poison in a bus on her property and mixed it into a glass of lemonade. In January, she allegedly found antifreeze on her property and added it to the victim’s tea. The victim reported becoming ill after consuming both drinks.
Deputies arrested Clinkenbeard at her residence in Versailles, approximately 70 miles southwest of Columbia. During transport to the jail, Clinkenbeard reportedly began singing about Jesus saving her, and she continued to alternate between singing religious songs and crying at the police station.
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Clinkenbeard allegedly admitted to poisoning the family member, stating she did so during arguments with him. When asked if she was aware that the amount of poison used could be fatal, she reportedly answered affirmatively. Initially, the victim denied being poisoned by Clinkenbeard, but later confirmed her confession to police.
If convicted, Clinkenbeard faces between 10 and 30 years in prison. She remains in custody at the Morgan County Jail.
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