Security Cameras Help Husband Uncover Wife’s Alleged Murder Plot

A Missouri teacher has been arrested after her husband exposed an alleged murder plot using home surveillance cameras. Sarah Scheffer, a 37-year-old art and design instructor at Jefferson City’s Cavalry Lutheran High School, is being charged with “first-degree attempted murder and armed criminal action,” according to a probable cause statement reviewed by ABC affiliate KMIZ 17 and People.

Scheffer’s husband, the alleged victim, alerted local police to the reported plot on Tuesday, after falling ill about six days earlier. He had become suspicious after he began experiencing “extreme fatigue, confusion, blurred vision, severe cotton mouth, and nausea” on nearly 10 separate occasions after eating or drinking in his own home.

The as-yet-unidentified husband told police that he confronted Scheffer on January 1, after she made him a smoothie which had a bitter taste. She allegedly told him that she had urinated in the beverage, and then that she had added a strong adhesive, like Gorilla Glue, into the drink. Although she apparently later revised her story, insisting there was nothing added to the drink, the alleged victim took it upon himself to install surveillance cameras in the kitchen.

On Tuesday morning, Scheffer’s husband reportedly found a bag on her desk marked “lily of the valley,” a substance which contains cardiac glycosides, which slow the heart. According to authorities, the surveillance camera captured Scheffer emptying this substance into a blender, which the victim maintains was a smoothie intended for him to consume.

Jefferson City police officers also reported that, after her arrest Tuesday evening, Scheffer admitted to adding lily of the valley to her husband’s food with the knowledge it could make him sick, or even kill him.

Calvary Lutheran released a statement shortly after Scheffer’s arrest on Tuesday in which they confirmed she has been placed on leave from her position.

A Cole County Jail official confirmed to Men’s Journal that Scheffer is currently being held at the facility without bond. An arraignment is scheduled for Friday. It’s currently unclear if she has entered a plea or retained representation.

Scheffer’s story oddly mirrors that of former Mayo Clinic doctor Connor Bowman. He stands accused of recently murdering his wife with a poisoned smoothie after their open relationship soured.