A Kentucky man has been accused of threatening to kill his wife after he grew to believe that she had tried to poison him by putting Tylenol in his deviled eggs.
Ronald Coots is facing several charges, including first-degree burglary, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and third-degree terroristic threatening, according to online jail records.
The incident took place on the afternoon of Friday, March 13. Kentucky State Police were called to a home in Pike County after a woman called authorities to claim that her husband was trying to kill her, according to WYMT.
A trooper reportedly arrived at the home and found Coots, 72, on the porch of the residence with a shotgun. After the officer told him to drop the weapon, Coots hesitated before he eventually obeyed.
Police said that Coots was bleeding heavily from his arm after he punched a window. He also allegedly told the responding officer that he believed his wife was “trying to kill him” by putting Tylenol in his food.
While the officer was working on treating Coots’ wound, the suspect allegedly said he “should’ve blew her brains out,” according to WYMT.
Coots’ wife and another woman at the residence also spoke to the officer, and they reportedly said that Coots had “freaked out.” He allegedly tried to get inside of the home by breaking a window because the door was locked, and they believed he wanted to kill his wife.
Authorities looked through the home and found blood throughout the house, as well as a bloody handprint on the bathroom door.
Additionally, police said a Ring doorbell camera captured Coots walking out of the house with a shotgun as his wife shut the door behind him. Coots then pointed the gun at the door and ordered her to open it.
Troopers looked at the shotgun during their visit and noted that it contained five shells when it was cleared. Officials also found two small pill containers holding medication, which Coots claimed was for diabetes and his heart. However, police noted that the pills were not in a proper prescription container.
Coots was arrested on the same day of the incident. EMS took Coots to Pikeville Medical Center to have his injury treated before he was booked into the Pike County Detention Center.
He is next scheduled to appear in court on March 26.
It is not currently clear if Coots has entered a plea or retained legal representation following his arrest. It was also not immediately clear if the couple had a history of domestic dispute calls prior to the incident.
The Kentucky State Police did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
