Woman charged in poisoning of fiance

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

A Cleveland woman who coaches youth baseball has been accused of killing the father of their two children by poisoning his iced tea with antifreeze six years ago.

Prosecutors said 34-year-old Holly McFeeture killed her fiance, Matthew Podolak, by pouring antifreeze in his raspberry tea over weeks and possibly months, because she wanted to end their relationship. The Plain Dealer newspaper reported that McFeeture was indicted earlier this week.

When the 31-year-old Podolak died in 2006, the county coroner ruled it intoxication by ethylene glycol, which is the active ingredient in antifreeze. The coroner left the manner of death undetermined.

Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Brian McDonough said that changed in March 2010, when the death was ruled a homicide based on a tip received by Cleveland police. He said that information ruled out suicide or accidental death.

Antifreeze is sweet and odorless when consumed but poisonous. Five days before his death, Podolak went to the doctor’s office complaining of pain and was given medication for kidney stones. The prosecutor said Podolak later consumed enough anti-freeze to cause organ failure and death.

“We believe the antifreeze was administered in sweet raspberry iced tea that he would drink daily,” McDonough said.

McDonough said police do not suspect anybody else was involved in Podolak’s death, but he thinks there are people with information who have yet to come forward.

The newspaper said McFeeture coaches baseball in a Cleveland area youth league. Her Facebook page lists her most recent job as a butcher at a stall in the city’s West Side Market.

Matthew Podolak’s older brother, Mark Podolak, said his family suspected McFeeture had something to do with his brother’s death.

“She just wasn’t acting like somebody who was losing or about to lose a loved one,” he said.

McFeeture was indicted Tuesday and arrested Wednesday. She currently is at the Cuyahoga County Jail, and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on charges of aggravated murder and one count of contaminating substance for human consumption.

Courts records do not list an attorney for McFeeture.