US woman charged with concealing bleach in husband’s coffee avoids jail

US woman avoids jail despite charge for concealing bleach in husband’s coffee. Legal outcome stirs controversy

Melody Feliciano Johnson, who was initially charged with attempted murder in Arizona for allegedly poisoning her husband's coffee daily for months, has avoided jail time and instead received three years of probation as part of a plea deal.

 

Under the terms of the deal, Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of adding a poison or harmful substance to food or drink. While she initially faced more serious charges, the reduced counts carried a potential sentence of up to two years in prison for each offense. However, the presiding judge opted for probation, requiring Johnson to undergo a mental health evaluation and prohibiting her from contacting her estranged husband except in legal contexts such as their pending divorce.

 

The decision to grant probation took into account the husband's wishes, as he reportedly did not want Johnson to be imprisoned. The couple are said to be living together with their child while awaiting the finalization of their divorce.

 

As part of the plea deal, Johnson admitted to adding trace amounts of bleach to her husband's coffee pot on two occasions in July 2023. Suspicion arose when the husband noticed a strange taste in his coffee, prompting him to investigate with pool chemical testing strips. Subsequent video footage captured Johnson pouring bleach into his coffee maker.

 

While the case drew national attention due to its unusual circumstances, it also sheds light on the broader issue of domestic violence. Women in the US are statistically more likely to experience severe violence at the hands of an intimate partner, with one in four women facing such violence compared to one in nine men, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.