A woman, Amber Snow, aged 36, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to induce a miscarriage in a pregnant woman by sending a ‘family size pan of lasagne’ that was deliberately contaminated. The incident, which took place on December 28, involved Snow working with an accomplice to carry out the scheme. Law enforcement officers revealed that the lasagne, suspected of being tainted with a substance, tested positive for oxycodone after further investigation.

According to the police, the dish was meant to cause a miscarriage in a member of the recipient family who was pregnant. Fortunately, both the intended victim and her baby are reported to be unharmed. The authorities from the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, located in Iowa, have not disclosed whether the woman consumed any of the food or if she has given birth to her baby.

Snow faces multiple charges, including controlled substance violation, attempted non-consensual termination of a pregnancy, child endangerment, and administering harmful substances to adults and minors. She is currently in custody on a $100,000 (£74,915) cash bond, with legal representation status unclear. Authorities have hinted at more arrests in connection with the case.

The circumstances of this case draw parallels to a notorious incident known as the Australian beef Wellington murders. In that case, Erin Patterson was convicted of causing the deaths of three relatives by using toxic death cap mushrooms in a beef Wellington dish. Despite her defense claiming accidental poisoning due to mushroom foraging, the jury found her guilty. The victims who passed away as a result of the meal were Don Patterson, 70, Gail Patterson, 70, and Heather Wilkinson, 66, while Heather’s husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, survived after a lengthy hospital stay.

This tragic event serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with food tampering and the need for vigilance in safeguarding against such malicious acts.