Man accused of trying to kill wife after believing she poisoned deviled eggs with Tylenol, officials say

JAMBOREE, Ky. (WYMT/Gray News) - A man in Kentucky is accused of trying to kill his wife after claiming that she poisoned his deviled eggs with Tylenol.

Troopers said they were called to a home around 5 p.m. on March 13 after a woman reported her husband, 72-year-old Ronald Wayne Coots, was outside with a gun.

She told troopers that her husband threatened to kill her and others because he believed she had poisoned him.

When a trooper arrived, he reported seeing Coots on the porch holding a gun. The trooper repeatedly ordered Coots to put the gun down, and he initially refused but eventually complied.

The trooper said that the 72-year-old told him he thought his wife was “trying to kill” him by putting Tylenol in his deviled eggs. The officer also reported that Coots was bleeding heavily from his arm after punching a window.

The trooper applied a tourniquet and gauze and reported that, while walking toward the cruiser, Coots said he “should’ve blew her brains out.”

Investigators say Coots’ wife and another woman at the home told troopers that the 72-year-old “freaked out,” tried to get inside to kill his wife, and broke a window to get inside because the door was locked.

Troopers say he left blood throughout the house and a bloody handprint was found on the bathroom door where he reportedly found his wife.

A Ring doorbell camera allegedly captured him walking out with a shotgun, his wife shutting the door, and then pointing the gun at the door and ordering her to open it, troopers said.

Troopers also reported the shotgun contained five shells when it was cleared.

Before placing Coots in the cruiser, the trooper allegedly searched him and found two small pill containers holding medication he said was for diabetes and his heart, but they were not in proper prescription containers.

Coots was charged with burglary, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, first-degree terroristic threatening, and third-degree menacing prescription controlled substance not in proper container, first offense.