A woman from Iowa is accused of slipping opioids into a lasagna and delivering it to a family member over the holidays, in what investigators say was a plan to cause a miscarriage.
Authorities say 36-year-old Amber Snow now faces multiple felony charges after a lengthy investigation tied to a pan of food delivered just days after Christmas.
Investigators with the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office say the dish was brought to a relative’s home on Dec. 28.
The meal appeared ordinary at first. Family members later grew suspicious and contacted authorities in January.
Investigators say the report centered on a “family size” lasagna that may have been tampered with before it was delivered.
Authorities began a probe that stretched across several weeks. Detectives secured search warrants and examined evidence tied to the food and the people involved.
Testing by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation revealed the dish contained oxycodone. Investigators say oxycodone is a Schedule II narcotic.
Authorities believe the drug was intentionally mixed into the lasagna before it was delivered.
“The dish was intended to cause a miscarriage to a pregnancy of a woman in the family that received the lasagna,” the sheriff’s office stated in a public release.
Investigators say the pregnant woman had no knowledge the food may have been contaminated.
Authorities confirmed she did not consent to ingesting any controlled substance.
Officials have not confirmed whether the woman consumed any of the food.
Investigators say the pregnancy was not harmed. Authorities did not disclose whether the child has since been born.
Detectives shifted their focus to Snow as the investigation progressed.
Authorities say they examined electronic devices linked to the suspect. Investigators report finding internet searches connected to the alleged plan.
They also identified communications between Snow and another individual believed to be involved.
Officials say those messages were exchanged before and after the lasagna was prepared and delivered.
“The investigation identified electronic communications and search history on the defendants’ accounts and phones from before and after the lasagna was prepared and delivered to another family on Dec. 28, 2025,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Investigators say those records helped outline the sequence of events tied to the alleged plot.
Authorities brought two individuals in for questioning during the investigation.
Detectives say they were able to piece together the alleged plan based on statements and digital evidence.
Officials indicated more arrests could follow as the case develops. Authorities have not publicly identified a clear motive.
Investigators noted that Snow shares a minor child with a member of the pregnant woman’s family.
Officials say that relative knew the lasagna was tainted and did not want it delivered. Authorities allege the plan moved forward despite that warning.
Snow was taken into custody and faces two counts of administering harmful substances to an adult. She also faces two counts of administering harmful substances to a juvenile.
Prosecutors added a charge of attempted nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy.
Authorities also filed a charge related to a controlled substance violation. All of the charges are classified as felonies.
Court records show Snow is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond.
The case has drawn attention as investigators continue reviewing evidence and possible involvement of others.
Another case involving poisoning reached a verdict in Utah after a jury convicted a mother accused of killing her husband with a drug-laced drink.
Jurors found Kouri Darden Richins guilty on multiple counts tied to the death of her husband Eric Richins.
The charges include first-degree aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery and insurance fraud.
The verdict came after jurors deliberated for just over three hours.
Eric Richins died March 4, 2022, at the couple’s home in Kamas, Utah. Investigators determined the cause of death was a fentanyl overdose. Prosecutors argued the killing was financially motivated.
“We the jury unanimously agree that the prosecution has proved the following circumstance … beyond reasonable doubt: The homicide was committed for pecuniary gain and the homicide was committed by means of the administration of any substance administered in any lethal amount, dosage or quantity,” Judge Richard Mrazik read in court.
Prosecutors told jurors the defendant tried to poison her husband before the fatal incident.
Chief prosecutor Brad Bloodworth stated the first attempt involved a sandwich on Valentine’s Day.
When that attempt failed, prosecutors say she later gave him a drink laced with fentanyl. Authorities say the dose killed him within hours.
Prosecutors presented testimony from multiple witnesses during the trial. One witness, Carmen Lauber, told jurors she purchased drugs for the defendant on several occasions.
Lauber stated the substances were obtained from a dealer. The dealer later disputed portions of that account during testimony.
Defense attorneys challenged the credibility of Lauber’s statements. Attorney Lewis argued the witness presented a story shaped by investigators.
She also argued the earlier incident may have been an allergic reaction rather than attempted murder.
The defense further argued there was no direct evidence showing how the fatal dose entered Eric Richins’ system.
Lewis suggested the victim may have brought substances home himself following a trip to Mexico.
Prosecutors presented additional evidence tied to the case. Investigators said the defendant forged her husband’s signature on life insurance documents. Authorities say she later collected benefits following his death.
Prosecutors also pointed to phone data showing deleted messages. Investigators said searches were conducted on whether deleted texts could be recovered.
The defense argued the deleted messages could be tied to an unrelated personal relationship. Prosecutors argued the defendant built an alibi during her call to 911.
They also pointed to her financial situation. Bloodworth described her business as struggling at the time.
He argued a divorce would have left her with little financial gain due to a prenuptial agreement.
“The first minute is not the sound of a wife becoming a widow,” Bloodworth told jurors. “It is the sound of a wife becoming a black widow.”
Lewis rejected that characterization during closing arguments. “They don’t have the evidence that Kouri Richins killed her husband,” she told the jury.
“So instead they have tried to show you as much evidence as they possibly can to convince you that she’s the sort of person that would.”
Family members of Eric Richins attended the trial. They reacted emotionally as the verdict was read.
“Honestly, I feel like we’re all in shock,” Eric Richins’ sister, Amy Richin, told the Associated Press. “It’s been a long time coming’
Sentencing in the case is scheduled for May 13. The defendant faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
