A Madison couple faces numerous criminal charges for allegedly plotting to stalk, poison and murder two young women with whom the man had previously been involved.
Paul VanDuyne Jr., 43, and Andrea “Ani” Whitaker, 41, are charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, stalking and aggravated battery, among other charges.
Prosecutors in Dane and Rock counties, where the alleged victims live, are handing the cases. Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including the FBI and the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Rock County Circuit Court, VanDuyne and Whitaker “conspired to gather or create elaborate poisons” and use them to murder women with whom VanDuyne had briefly been in relationships.
The complaint alleges the couple attempted to poison the women by breaking into their cars and filling water bottles with cyanide or thallium, placing homemade Abrin in the car’s ventilation or placing a plastic tote, likely with hydrogen sulfide, in the car.
The Rock County woman was hospitalized after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Her sister, a middle-schooler, also got sick after being in the vehicle and observing a “rotten egg” smell, consistent with hydrogen sulfide. The woman had met VanDuyne two years ago on a dating app and had a relationship she described as “casual” and “sexual.”
During that time, VanDuyne met Whitaker, who was apparently finishing pharmacy school. The Rock County woman warned him that Whitaker seemed dangerous and toxic, according to the complaint.
After months of no contact, VanDuyne texted the Rock County woman, accusing her of being evil and falsely claiming Whitaker had killed herself after learning about VanDuyne’s relationship with the victim.
The second victim, a Dane County woman, had gone on a few dates with VanDuyne more than a year ago and said she ended the relationship because she wasn’t interested in him. VanDuyne allegedly tried twice to break into her car in a Costco parking lot and fill her water bottle with poison.
On June 15, law enforcement arrested VanDuyne near the Rock County woman’s home and later determined he placed a trail camera near her home to surveil her. A day later, Whitaker was arrested after officers saw her entering VanDuyne’s home and leaving with a laptop, a garbage bag and a vial of cloudy liquid she identified as “cat medicine.”
Law enforcement obtained search warrants for VanDuyne’s home on Spooner Street, near Camp Randall Stadium. Rosary pea seeds were found along with a notebook with the chemical formula for Abrin. Officials determined it a biohazard, and officers already in the home received medical checks. Hazmat crews in the area drew attention last week.
A search of Whitaker’s phone revealed a conversation from February with VanDuyne about purchasing or making thallium. “I’m not sure that I can order thallium sulfate without unwanted attention,” VanDuyne texted in part.
The texts “demonstrates that this conspiracy began months before, with both of their input,” according to the criminal complaint. Law enforcement is still extracting information from the phone.
Bail was set at $10 million for VanDuyne and $4 million for Whitaker. A preliminary hearing is set for Whitaker on July 2.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Madison couple face charges in alleged plot to poison, kill two women the man dated
Reporting by Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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