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According to a recent intelligence bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there has been a noticeable rise in the use of chemical and biological toxins by domestic partners to harm or fatally injure their victims over the last five years. This information has been shared with law enforcement and public safety organizations.
The report, issued in January by the DHS Intelligence Division within the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, highlights a disturbing trend. Officials note that this trend complicates detection, investigation, and prosecution efforts, as the symptoms of such poisonings can often resemble those of natural illnesses.
The DHS bulletin expresses “moderate confidence” that the use of substances like cyanide and ricin by domestic partners to injure or kill their spouses or partners is on the rise, based on data collected over the past five years.
This conclusion is drawn from reports by law enforcement, data from medical centers, and several documented cases reported across various states and years.
The alarming increase in the use of chemical and biological toxins by domestic partners over the past five years has been highlighted in a DHS bulletin. (iStock)
“These cases often initially present as natural illness,” the report states, noting that many toxins cause delayed or nonspecific symptoms that complicate medical diagnosis and can obscure criminal intent, delaying intervention and increasing the risk of serious harm or death.
The intelligence bulletin also highlights recent incidents showing the threat posed by the domestic use of chemical and biological toxins.
In one example, a Colorado dentist was convicted of first-degree murder after gradually poisoning his wife with a mix of arsenic, cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a medication commonly found in eye drops.
Arsenic was added to his wife’s protein shakes. She went to the hospital three times in 10 days with symptoms including dizziness and headaches before her condition deteriorated and she died.
Police reported that the dentist purchased a variety of poisons prior to her death.
The document states that similar incidents involving toxic substances in domestic settings have been reported in other states, underscoring persistent public safety risks and challenges for first responders.
According to DHS, domestic partner attacks involving chemical or biological toxins show a pattern in the choice of substances used to harm victims.
Substances used most include antifreeze, eye drops containing tetrahydrozoline, fentanyl, cyanide, thallium, colchicine, veterinary barbiturates and insulin.
There’s been an increase in domestic partners using chemical and biological toxins to harm or kill significant others in recent years, according to DHS officials. (NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office and Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The bulletin also says these are often chosen for their accessibility and their ability to mimic natural illness, complicating detection and investigation.
The report also warns that the intentional or accidental use of chemical or biological toxins in homes or public spaces can pose risks beyond the intended target.
Poisons and toxic agents may contaminate air, surfaces or water, exposing children, neighbors, bystanders and first responders to secondary harm.
Emergency personnel may unknowingly enter contaminated environments without proper protective equipment, increasing the risk of secondary exposure and hindering response and investigation efforts.
“If the trend of using chemical or biological toxins to kill or harm continues, we may see an increase in fatalities and long-term health consequences for survivors,” the bulletin states, adding that demand for specialized training, equipment and forensic expertise is likely to grow.
DHS has called for increased coordination, awareness and improved detection and response capabilities to address this evolving form of domestic partner violence.