A Connecticut mother’s custody battle escalated into attempted murder charges after she allegedly poisoned her estranged husband with antifreeze.
Story Highlights
- Kristen Hogan, 33, charged with two counts of attempted murder for poisoning husband with ethylene glycol
- Child also hospitalized with similar symptoms, suggesting potential exposure to poisoned substances
- Defendant researched multiple lethal chemicals online, including cyanide and various toxic compounds
- Poisoning occurred during contentious custody dispute where Hogan stood to gain full custody and property
Premeditated Poisoning During Custody Battle
Kristen Hogan of Ridgefield, Connecticut, faces attempted murder charges after allegedly contaminating wine and iced tea with ethylene glycol antifreeze at her estranged husband’s home. The August 2024 incident occurred during their ongoing child custody proceedings, when Hogan failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing but accessed her husband’s home Wi-Fi network. Connecticut State Police arrested Hogan after laboratory testing confirmed ethylene glycol presence in the wine bottle and her eventual confession to the poisoning.
Connecticut mother charged with attempted murder after allegedly poisoning husband with antifreeze https://t.co/DS1agFC2g9
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 7, 2025
Disturbing Pattern of Research and Planning
Investigators discovered extensive internet searches on Hogan’s seized phone revealing her research into multiple lethal chemicals. She had searched for “potassium cyanide, potassium ferrycide, citrate-cyanide, potassium thiocyanate, and monoethylene glycol,” specifically researching lethal dosages. Hogan told police she learned about cyanide from the television show “Psych” and claimed she “never intended to kill him, but just wanted to make him sick as payback for him being mentally abusive.”
The victim consumed the contaminated wine on August 10 and became critically ill overnight, experiencing severe symptoms including slurred speech, staggering, and vomiting. His mother found him in a severely compromised state and provided crucial assistance during the medical emergency. Emergency medical intervention saved his life after hospital staff diagnosed ethylene glycol poisoning.
Watch: Connecticut woman charged with trying to kill partner with poison wine
Child Becomes Secondary Victim
The couple’s minor child was hospitalized in September with symptoms similar to the father’s poisoning, suggesting potential exposure to the poisoned substances. This development adds child endangerment concerns to the case and demonstrates the reckless disregard for innocent life. The custody battle had created a zero-sum dynamic where Hogan potentially stood to gain full custody of their child and complete ownership of the residence if her husband died.
Hogan now faces two counts of attempted murder and one count of interfering with an officer. The premeditated nature of the crime, evidenced by her extensive internet research and deliberate contamination of multiple beverages, distinguishes this case from crimes of passion. If convicted, she faces significant prison time while her actions have traumatized the family unit, potentially leaving the child without either parent.
Sources:
Poisoned husband child custody battle antifreeze wine iced tea – KFOX TV
Poisoned husband child custody battle antifreeze wine iced tea – UpNorthLive
Poisoned husband child custody battle antifreeze wine iced tea – Turn To 10
