A woman from North Carolina is reportedly facing serious legal charges after allegedly attempting to poison her husband by tampering with his energy drink. According to police, she aimed to render him incapable of functioning.

Cheryl Harris Gates, age 43, was taken into custody last week. Authorities claim she spiked her husband’s Celsius energy drink with prescription medications, intending to cause him to black out or become incapacitated, as reported by The New York Post.

Gates’ husband informed police that on two occasions, July 12 and August 18, he experienced incapacitation and later found an unidentified controlled substance in his beverage. At the time, the couple was living apart.

On October 10, 2025, Cheryl Gates was arrested in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, facing charges of attempted murder and food or drink contamination, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities have accused Gates of conducting multiple searches on ChatGPT from July 8 to September 29. These searches reportedly included inquiries about drug combinations that could incapacitate or potentially be lethal if consumed or injected, The Post stated.

Investigators reportedly discovered evidence through online records that Gates allegedly purchased materials and attempted to carry out a plan to poison her husband. Upon searching Gates’ home, authorities also found a capsule filling kit, syringes, medical droppers, medications and scales, according to The Post. 

Cheryl Gates is accused of using prescription pills to poison her husband’s energy drink, according to police. (iStock)

She is also reportedly accused of placing a tracking device on her husband’s vehicle and breaking his window.

At the time of her arrest, Gates was working as a pediatric occupational therapist at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, WBTV reported. 

The school district did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s inquiry regarding her current employment status. 

Cheryl Gates was arrested and charged with stalking and injury to personal property in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on Oct. 7, 2025.  (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office)

Gates is charged with attempted murder, stalking, damage to property and contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. 

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

In a Monday court appearance, Gates was denied bond and is scheduled to appear in front of a judge on Oct. 30, WBTV reported. 

Fox News Digital was unable to locate an attorney representing Gates.