A man has been arrested and jailed on multiple charges after allegedly attempting to kill his wife, believing that she had poisoned his deviled eggs with Tylenol. The disturbing incident took place in the United States, where the 72-year-old man, Ronald Wayne Coots, was involved in a violent confrontation with his wife, Betty Coots.
The Incident and Police Response
On March 13, police received a report of a man walking around his residence holding a gun. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Coots on the porch, bleeding from a wound on his arm while holding a rifle. Initially, Coots did not comply with police orders to drop the weapon but later gave in and dropped it.
Upon investigation, Coots revealed that the injury to his arm was caused by punching a window. He told police that he believed his wife had poisoned his deviled eggs with Tylenol and that he had almost killed her in response. Coots reportedly said, “I should’ve blew her brains out,” according to an arrest citation obtained by WKRC.
The Search of Coots’ Home
When police searched Coots’ home, they discovered a bloody handprint on the bathroom door, where Coots had allegedly confronted his wife. Security footage showed Coots exiting the home with a shotgun, and his wife was seen shutting the door behind him. Coots then allegedly pointed the gun at the door and demanded that Betty open it. Terrified, Betty called the police.
Between the time Betty called the police and their arrival, Coots managed to break a living room window and entered the house. He allegedly ordered Betty to come outside, saying he didn’t want to kill her inside the house.
Coots’ Arrest and Charges
Coots was arrested and charged with several offenses, including burglary, wanton endangerment, unlawful imprisonment, terroristic threatening, menacing, and possession of a controlled substance in an improper container. He was taken to the hospital to treat his arm injury and then jailed.
Coots is scheduled to appear in court on March 26.
