CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 43-year-old North Carolina school therapist is facing multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, after police say she tried to poison her estranged husband and secretly tracked his movements using a device placed on his vehicle.
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), Cheryl Gates was arrested Friday following an investigation that linked her to a disturbing plot involving food contamination and stalking.
An arrest warrant reviewed by Law&Crime accuses Gates of contaminating food and drink “to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless,” though authorities have not disclosed what substance was allegedly used. Local outlet WSOC reports the couple had been separated.
Court documents further allege that Gates “unlawfully and willfully did without legal purpose, on more than one occasion harass [Gates’ husband] by placing a tracking device on his vehicle.” The warrant states that she “knew and should have known that the harassment, course of conduct would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of the person’s immediate family.”
CMPD confirmed Gates’ arrest in a press release, identifying her as an employee of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Authorities clarified that the alleged crimes occurred off school property and “did not involve any student, teacher or facility.”
Gates, who local media describe as a pediatric therapist, now faces four serious charges: attempted murder, contaminating food and drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, stalking, and property damage. Investigators say she allegedly broke a window belonging to her ex-husband.
“It’s definitely surprising that somebody in that capacity that is there to help others would do something, that type of crime, especially,” said parent Quemella Holland, whose child attends a CMS school, in an interview with WSOC.
Police records show Gates was first booked on stalking and property damage charges last Tuesday and released, only to be arrested again on Friday when the attempted murder charge was added. As of Sunday, she remained in the Mecklenburg County Jail, while CMPD said the investigation is active and ongoing.
Authorities have not confirmed whether Gates is still employed by the school district.
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