A teacher at a Christian school in Jefferson City has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to poison her husband. Sarah Scheffe is a part-time art and design teacher at Calvary Lutheran High School.
The Jefferson City Police Department said in a statement that its officers investigated a call “involving allegations of intentional poisoning of a spouse” on January 15. The victim told officers he believed his unexplained illness was the result of an intentional act of poisoning. The man said he was suspicious of his wife and thought she had been putting substances in his food and drinks for about six weeks. He experienced symptoms of blurred vision, confusion, dry mouth, fatigue and nausea.
The victim told police he saw a bag labeled “Lily of the Valley” on a table in their home. The man showed police a photo of the bag and a green bowl. A video then showed his wife making a smoothie using the roots that were in the bag.
“If you eat enough of that in a short period of time, you can see signs relatively quickly,” Tim Evans, a veterinary toxicologist at University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, told KMIZ-TV. “But it all depends on what part of the plant and how much of it is consumed.”
Police said Scheffer admitted putting Lily of the Valley in her husband’s food. In addition, she was aware of the substance’s potential to cause death or a serious illness, police said. She is charged with first-degree attempted murder and armed criminal action, court records show.
“This afternoon, Calvary Lutheran High School was notified by JCPD of a criminal matter pertaining to an employee,” said John Christman, the school’s executive director. “The alleged conduct was outside of the employee’s association with the school and did not involve a student or any other school personnel. As a Christian community, Calvary Lutheran High School believes in protecting the well-being of all individuals who are part of our programs and we seek to respond in a caring and sensitive manner to everyone in our school community.”
–Alan Goforth | MV