Woman Sentenced To Prison For Poisoning Smoothie

Published February 14, 2012 11:00PM (EST)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah woman has been sentenced to consecutive prison terms for spiking a 79-year-old man's peach smoothie with antifreeze after taking control of his bank accounts.

Vernal's 8th District Judge Clark McClellan ordered Selena Irene York to serve three consecutive terms of up to five years each. The 34-year-old pleaded no contest in December to reduced charges of aggravated assault and forgery.

Authorities say York took control of Ed Zurbuchen's bank accounts after he opened his home to the woman and her daughter. Prosecutors say she stole $10,000 and named herself the beneficiary of Zurbuchen's life insurance policies.

Zurbuchen was hospitalized for four days in 2008 and is still undergoing liver and kidney testing.

The case stalled until a jilted boyfriend alerted police that York bragged about the poisoning.


By Salon Staff

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