A 35-year-old paramedic has been charged with murder after investigators claimed he poisoned his wife with Visine eye drops. Joshua Hunsucker, who was arrested in North Carolina, then collected his wife’s life insurance totalling $250,000.
Stacey Hunsucker’s death was originally ruled as natural, until her mother raised the alarm. Upon completing posthumous toxicology reports, investigators found that her blood contained a high level of tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant found in eye drops. The chemical is not harmful when used normally, but when ingested can cause health complications including cardiac arrest.
Mr Hunsucker had access to the chemical as part of his job as a paramedic. When he refused to allow an autopsy for his wife even though she was an organ donor suspicions were raised.
Court documents reveal that Mr Hunsucker's stated reason for refusing an autopsy was not wanting his wife 'to be cut up', which he used to justify having her body cremated immediately.
The court also heard that Mr Hunsucker had moved his new girlfriend into his home within six months of Ms Hunsucker's death, with his colleagues alleging that he seemed 'unaffected' by his wife's death.