HARTSELLE, AL – Authorities have accused Brian Mann, 36, of attempting to murder his estranged wife by poisoning her with lead, a charge he denies in an ongoing court case. Police say Mann orchestrated the alleged poisoning during a tumultuous divorce in September 2022, leading to his wife’s extended hospitalization.
The case began when local police investigated Mann’s wife after she became unresponsive and was hospitalized for two months. Suspecting lead poisoning, investigators searched the couple’s home twice but found no immediate sources of lead, despite Mann providing his wife’s medications and vitamins for examination.
Investigators questioned Mann about his own potential exposure to lead. He reportedly showed reluctance in getting tested, claiming he was trying to find a testing site.
During a later medical examination, he informed a nurse practitioner of observing a substance in his gut, suggesting possible lead ingestion. His behavior during this consultation was reportedly anxious, and another scan revealed a suspicious substance in his colon.
Authorities now believe Mann may have intentionally ingested lead to simulate being poisoned himself. An affidavit by Police Captain Alan McDearmond suggested this act was meant to create the impression he was also a victim.
Further, a tipster told police about unused lead purportedly given to Mann during a previous construction project. This lead may have originated from work done in an X-ray room at Mann’s workplace, bolstering the suspicion that he might have used it against his wife.
Arrested on September 2, 2022, Mann was charged with attempted murder. His defense has challenged the validity of the evidence, questioning the methodology used to extract and handle samples believed to contain lead. They argue that the evidence was collected under improper conditions and lacked a proper chain of custody, rendering it inadmissible.
After several delays in the legal proceedings, Mann, released on a $500,000 bond and monitored electronically, faces trial at Morgan County Courthouse. He maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to the serious charge of attempted murder against his estranged wife.