Woman in Poison-Smoothie Case Pleads Not Guilty

A woman accused of killing her brother-in-law by spiking his smoothie with antifreeze pleaded not guilty to murder Monday.

A lawyer for Maryann Neabor, 53, said she admitted putting chemicals in the drink but intended only to make Jonathan Neabor sick enough so she could take control of his money.

“Maryann Neabor is apparently mentally ill,” said Craig Mitnick. “She’s made a horrendous decision. There’s no justification or excuse for it.”

Neabor faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted of murder. She was being held on a $500,000 bond.

“This is in our view not any type of an accident. It was a premeditated action,” said county prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi.

Neabor allegedly poisoned her brother-in-law Wednesday at her home in Shamong Township in southern New Jersey so she and her husband would have access to his money to ease their financial troubles. She allegedly concocted a drink that included pineapple juice, maraschino cherries and antifreeze, state police said.

Mitnick said his client acted alone and without the knowledge of her husband and their sons, ages 17 and 22. She turned herself in to protect her family, he said.

Her husband, Michael Neabor, has not been charged.

“She did not want to place her husband and children in any jeopardy because they had no knowledge of this,” he said.

Mitnick said his client had threatened suicide and had severe depression and diabetes. The judge granted a request for psychiatric and medical evaluations.