Two Plead Innocent In Death Plot

A trial is scheduled to begin April 13 for two local men accused of plotting to kill Jerry Holton with coffee laced with liquid nicotine.

Patrick M. Austin, 21, and Dan Wheeler III, 37, pleaded innocent before 5th District Judge Barry Wood on Monday to one count each of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Wheeler last month boiled cigarette butts to extract a vial of nicotine, according to affidavits prepared by Jerome County Sheriff’s Detective Dan Chatterton.

He then allegedly gave the vial to Austin, who delivered it to Holton’s wife, Janyce Holton, Chatterton said. Janyce Holton has testified that she had been romantically involved with Wheeler.

The detective alleged that Austin instructed Janyce Holton to place a few drops of the vial’s contents into her husband’s coffee, and to increase the dose if the first poisoning attempt failed.

During a preliminary hearing last week, Janyce Holton testified that she instead told her husband about the plot and he called the sheriff’s office.

Wheeler and Austin remained in the Jerome County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond each.