Rock Co. woman identifies self as victim in Wisconsin couple’s poisoning plot

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - A Rock County woman has identified herself as one of the victims in a Wisconsin couple’s poisoning plot.

Amanda Bade told WMTV 15 News that she was the woman allegedly poisoned in Rock County.

Bade also said she appreciates people sharing a GoFundMe that was set up to support her and her family financially as she recovers in the hospital. As of 3 p.m., the account has raised more than $8,400.

A criminal complaint filed against suspects Paul VanDuyne and Andrea Whitaker details three alleged instances of poisonings of the victim in Rock County, and an attempted poisoning of a different victim in Dane County.

The complaint states the alleged poisonings in Rock County happened on April 26, May 4 and May 7. In all three cases, VanDuyne is accused of breaking into the woman’s car.

Rock County Sheriff Curtis Fell told NBC News last week that the Rock County victim was hospitalized and is still in a wheelchair. Fell said an antidote had to be flown in from California to treat the poison.

Authorities arrested VanDuyne on June 15 as they were doing a welfare check on the Rock Co. victim after they allegedly tracked VanDuyne driving to her home, according to the criminal complaint.

As they were at her home, VanDuyne allegedly ran away from law enforcement. Officials noted he was wearing latex gloves, a KN95 mask and a black hoodie at the time.

The complaint alleges a trail camera was found and was pointed at the woman’s home.

The alleged poisonings also sickened the Rock County woman’s middle-school aged sister, the criminal complaint stated. After the May 4 incident, the complaint said the girl got sick after being in the car and had to come home from school. Law enforcement alleged homemade abrin was put in the car’s air vents.

The alleged poisonings prompted three hazmat investigations around Madison last week. Two of the homes were later confirmed to be residences of VanDuyne, while the third was Whitaker’s apartment.

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