Massachusetts woman accused of poisoning boyfriend to death appears in court

A Massachusetts woman has been arraigned for allegedly fatally poisoning her boyfriend with ethylene glycol, an industrial compound commonly found in antifreeze, deicing fluid, and hydraulic brake fluid.

According to an Essex District Attorney’s Office spokesperson, 64-year-old Judy Church was ordered held without bail by Judge Allen Swan at Newburyport District Court. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2023.

On November 11, 2022, just after 8:00 p.m., Church called 911 to request an ambulance for her boyfriend, 46-year-old Leroy Fowler. Salisbury Police, Fire and EMS responded and found the victim in obvious medical distress. He was initially taken to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport. He was transported to Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, and was ultimately brought to Beth Israel Hospital where he died on November 13, 2022.

The Salisbury Police, the Essex State Police Detective Unit and the Essex District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation. Based upon the findings of that investigation, coupled with Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s determination that ethylene glycol poisoning was the cause of death, an arrest warrant charging Church with murder was obtained. She was arrested without incident by the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section.