Leroy Fowler died in 2022 after Judy Church, aged 67, deliberately added a toxic substance to his energy drink, which ultimately led to his death.
On November 11, 2022, Church contacted emergency responders and reported that Fowler ‘must have ingested something’ and was unable to stand on his own, raising concern about his condition.
Despite efforts to save him, he passed away two days later as the damage proved too severe.
Prosecutor AJ Camelio told the court that Church only made the emergency call after Fowler himself asked her to do so. He also revealed that she recorded him while he was clearly in extreme pain, which added another disturbing detail to the case.
The toxic substance involved, ethylene glycol, is a colorless and odorless liquid commonly found in antifreeze. It is extremely dangerous when ingested and can quickly become fatal without urgent medical treatment.
Church claimed that Fowler had been unfaithful, and prosecutors described their relationship as unstable and deeply troubled, pointing to ongoing tension between the two.
On Thursday (April 2), the court handed down a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole after she was found guilty of first-degree murder, with evidence showing premeditation and extreme cruelty.
A victim impact statement was read in court on behalf of Barbara Randall, who had been in a relationship with Fowler at the time he died, describing the emotional toll of the loss.
“No one deserves to suffer like that. No one deserves to have their life ended in fear and pain at the hands of someone he thought he could trust,” Randall said.
