Long Island Woman Put Antifreeze in Husband's Drinks: DA

HOLBROOK, NY – A Holbrook woman tried to kill her estranged husband by poisoning drinks inside his home with antifreeze, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said Thursday.

Renee Burke, 40, is charged with second degree attempted murder, first degree attempted assault, second degree burglary, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of second degree criminal contempt.

"This is an extremely troubling case," Sini said in a press release. "The evidence will show there there are at least three occasions in which the defendant attempted to kill her estranged husband: once by putting antifreeze in his wine bottle, once by putting it in his soda, and another - which was caught on videotape - where she puts antifreeze in another one of his wine bottles."

On Sept. 6, authorities say Burke's husband began to drink a glass of wine but discarded it due to its strange taste and smell. Four days later, he started to drink a glass of Pepsi but again tasted and smelled chemicals in the drink, Sini said.

The husband contacted police, who recovered the bottle and suggested he install surveillance cameras in his home.

Surveillance video taken on Sept. 12 shows Burke pouring antifreeze into a wine bottle inside her husband's home, Sini said.

Burke was then arrested and charged with second degree burglary.

Several beverage containers were recovered by police from the husband's home and sent to a laboratory for testing, which revealed the presence of ethylene glycol, a compound found in antifreeze, Sini said.

A subsequent search warrant executed at Burke’s residence resulted in the seizure of a bottle of antifreeze, Sini said.

Burke also consented to an analysis of her cellphone, which authorities say revealed internet searches for “antifreeze with alcohol,” “what liquids for cars can kill a human,” and “can antifreeze kill s himan (sic).”

"It's not only disturbing that the defendant attempted to murder her estranged husband, but that she did so in the presence of children," Sini said.

Burke and her husband have two children, one of whom allegedly told a babysitter, "I saw Mommy putting something in Daddy’s drink.

Burke was arraigned Thursday before Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Mark Cohen. Bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. She is due back in court on Feb. 7.

If convicted of the top count, she faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.