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Background: The Eternal Spring of Gilbert facility where Danielle Crosbie-Davidson was found dead (Google Maps). Inset: Justin Davidson (Maricopa County Sheriff”s Office).
The husband of a woman found dead at a dementia care facility in Arizona allegedly poisoned her with a slushy laced with sleeping pills.
In a press release, the Maricopa County District Attorney announced the indictment of 46-year-old Justin Davidson on one count of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Danielle Crosbie-Davidson, whose age was not provided. According to the release, Crosbie-Davidson was under long-term treatment for advanced dementia at the Eternal Spring of Gilbert facility. She was found dead in her room on June 11, and her husband was staying the room with her at the time.
Court documents obtained by local CBS affiliate KPHO stated that facility staff noticed that Crosbie-Davidson’s health had deteriorated since her husband arrived and told police that they noticed “suspicious marks” on her. When they found her dead, they stated that her tongue was blue.
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According to the court documents, facility staff told police that Davidson — who is a resident of California — allegedly told them that he “did not want them to feed” his wife. He also reportedly locked the door to his wife’s room, which staff told him to stop doing so they could continue to check on her.
After Crosbie-Davidson was found dead, staff members reportedly found bruising on the side of her neck, which raised their suspicions. They called police, who questioned Davidson.
It apparently did not take long for the widower to confess.
Police said that Davidson allegedly admitted to a failed attempt to kill his wife with an intentional overdose of 50 to 60 crushed Oxycodone pills, for which she had a prescription. But despite the large amount of the powerful opioid, Crosbie-Davidson did not die after Davidson fed them to her in her food.
According to court documents, Davidson then allegedly confessed to buying over-the-counter sleeping pills at Target and dissolving them in a blue flavored frozen ice drink from Arizona fast-food chain Eegee’s. He also allegedly confessed to smothering his wife with a pillow until she stopped breathing.
KPHO reported that Davidson had previous altercations with his wife that involved police while the couple lived together in Southern California, per court records.
Davidson was booked into the Maricopa County Jail, where he is being held on $1 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 11.
