Woman Accused of Mailing Cyanide Is Too Ill to Stand Trial

A homeless cancer patient accused of mailing lethal packets of cyanide to perceived enemies around the country is terminally ill and not fit to stand trial, it was disclosed Thursday.

A doctor treating Kathryn Schoonover at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, where she is being held on federal charges, said her breast cancer has spread to her liver and possibly her bones.

Dr. Ramadas Aboy gave the 50-year-old woman six to 12 months to live, according to a document filed in Los Angeles federal court.

As a result, prosecutors agreed to postpone indefinitely further legal action against Schoonover and she agreed to remain in federal custody.

Schoonover’s medical condition and ability to stand trial will be reevaluated in 90 days.

She was arrested by sheriff’s deputies Aug. 23 after a patron at the Marina del Rey post office reported seeing her spooning powder from a container, marked with a skull and crossbones, into priority mail envelopes.

After taking her into custody, deputies searched the van that doubled as her home and found 68 addressed envelopes, each containing a packet of cyanide attached to a dietary supplement brochure, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Luis Li.

The deputies also recovered what they said was a “hit list” of about 100 people Schoonover described as her enemies. Most were law enforcement or medical personnel with whom she had had run-ins.

FBI agents and postal inspectors moved swiftly to contact everyone on the list.

At least 15 people told of receiving packets resembling those Schoonover was allegedly getting ready to mail from Marina del Rey.

A nurse at an Albany, N.Y., psychiatric hospital that once treated Schoonover said she received one such envelope last spring, tasted the contents and suffered a severe headache afterward.

A social worker at the hospital reported receiving a similar envelope, but never tasted the contents.

Li said only one of the 15 recipients saved the envelope in which the powdery white substance arrived. Lab tests turned up a residue of cyanide.

Schoonover was charged with two counts of mailing poison with intent to kill or injure and ordered held without bail. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Under the Speedy Trial Act, prosecutors had until Thursday to indict her, but under a stipulated agreement Schoonover agreed to waive any deadline until her doctors decide she is physically and medically able to stand trial.