Mystery Woman Sought : Poisoned Cake Spoils a Party

Police are looking for a woman who delivered a poison-laced chocolate cake to a retirement party for a county’s sanitation supervisor last week, causing nine people to become ill.

The cake, with chocolate icing and a “Happy Retirement” inscription, was dropped off before work hours at the offices of the Orange County Sanitation Districts at 10844 Ellis Ave. in Fountain Valley last Thursday, said Fountain Valley Police Sgt. Larry Griswold. The delivery person, a young woman, gave the cake to a worker and drove off.

The worker then brought the cake to the desk of retiring supervisor William Clarke.

“It was kind of a bonus since we were going to have a bigger cake later in the day,” said Clarke, 60. “I figured, ‘Well, let’s eat it.’ ”

Within two hours, Clarke and seven others had diarrhea, nausea and headaches. No employees were hospitalized, although one sought medical treatment.

“I only took a few bites when I realized it had some chemical in it,” said Randy Harris, a maintenance foreman. “It had a bitter taste to it.”

Police said the woman, described as white, standing 5 feet, 2 inches and in her mid-20s with brown hair, drove away in a dark-colored Ford Ranger.

It is not known yet what tainted the cake, pieces of which were taken to the Orange County Health Care Agency for analysis, Griswold said. Police say the woman was attempting to poison the employees, although they don’t know why or who she is.

“Over the years, I probably made some enemies,” said Clarke, a 29-year employee who retired as superintendent of operations and maintenance at the sewage treatment plant. “If I found out who did it, I’ll be screaming mad.”

Some employees said they thought the cake contained a laxative, because reactions were quick. But that doesn’t explain the other symptoms, said Blake Anderson, director of technical services at the plant.

“We’re still not sure if this was intentional,” he said. “But it’s rather suspicious.”

Clarke, who supervised about 300 people, said he had no idea who brought the cake.

“It disturbs me that someone did this,” said Clarke, of Buena Park. “I thought of myself as a good boss.”

Bob Ooten, who had some of the cake, said Clarke was a “likable” supervisor.

Harris said his 24-hour illness taught him “to find out where food comes from before I eat it.”

Clarke figured the baker eventually will be discovered.

“Someday, someone will brag about it,” he said.