HARTSELLE, AL – A man from Alabama stands accused of attempting to poison his estranged wife with lead, a case that has unfolded with unexpected twists, including a claim that he might have inadvertently poisoned himself.
Brian Mann, 36, is facing charges of attempted murder after authorities alleged he exposed his wife to lead during their acrimonious divorce proceedings in September 2022. The woman’s unexplained severe illness led to a two-month hospital stay, prompting an investigation by the Hartselle Police Department.
The investigation suggested Mann deliberately contaminated his wife’s environment with lead. Despite Mann allowing police to search their home and offering various substances for testing, authorities failed to find any lead source initially.
According to court documents, Mann mentioned he had not arranged lead poisoning tests for himself or their children, claiming difficulty in locating a testing center.
A critical development came when a nurse practitioner from Decatur General Hospital informed police about a suspicious encounter with Mann.
He had allegedly mentioned that he performed a self-X-ray, spotting a substance he thought was lead in his abdomen. His apparent anxiety over further testing raised alarms; however, a subsequent scan did reveal an unusual presence in his colon, implying recent ingestion.
It was later reported that a source tipped the police about unused lead materials allegedly in Mann’s possession. These materials were reportedly leftover from a construction project involving lead installations at his workplace in 2021.
Mann was arrested on September 2, 2022, and charged with the attempted murder of his wife. His attorneys challenge the procedures used to gather evidence, particularly the method of extracting lead from his wife’s samples, which allegedly involved unconventional practices that they claim undermine its validity in court.
As the trial unfolds, it highlights complex issues of evidence handling and legal scrutiny, capturing local attention and prompting broader discussions about justice and due process in intricate domestic cases.
Following his release on a hefty $500,000 bond, Mann, equipped with an ankle monitor, now faces trial at Morgan County Courthouse. Throughout, he has maintained his innocence, formally pleading not guilty to the charges.
