Melody Felicano Johnson, a woman from Arizona, recently reached a plea deal to avoid jail time after being indicted on attempted first-degree murder charges last year. The charges stemmed from a video sent to the police by her husband, showing her mixing bleach in his coffee. As part of the plea deal, Melody pleaded guilty to two counts of poisoning food or drink and was sentenced to three years of probation.
The probation sentence includes mandatory mental health treatment, which took effect immediately after sentencing. Melody is permitted to contact her husband only in the presence of legal representation. This resolution comes after Melody was initially arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and adding harmful substances to food, drink, or medicine.
The incident came to light when Melody's husband, Roby Johnson, serving in the US Air Force, noticed a strange taste in his coffee while the family was stationed in Germany. Using pool testing strips, he discovered high chlorine levels in his coffee pot. Suspecting foul play, he set up hidden cameras and caught Melody pouring an unknown substance into the coffee maker.
Upon returning to Tucson, Arizona, Roby Johnson alerted authorities, providing them with evidence from the hidden cameras. Investigators believe Melody's actions were motivated by an attempt to kill her husband in order to collect death benefits. Melody was arrested in July 2023, and the couple, who share a child, are currently undergoing divorce proceedings.
