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Salisbury woman gets life without parole for poisoning boyfriend

Judy Church, 67, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally poisoning her boyfriend's Powerade drink with antifreeze.

April 2, 2026

1 minute to read

A Salisbury woman was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday for fatally spiking her boyfriend’s drink with antifreeze in 2022, court documents show.

Judy Church, 67, was convicted of first-degree murder on Monday for the death of her boyfriend, Leroy Fowler, 55, after he died from ethylene glycol poisoning, prosecutors said.

She plans to appeal her conviction, court documents show.

Church was accused of poisoning Fowler’s Powerade drink with ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical found in antifreeze, after she grew jealous of his longtime affair, prosecutors said.

During the trial, prosecutor AJ Camelio labeled the former couple’s relationship as “toxic and dysfunctional,” the office of the Essex County District Attorney said.

Fowler was openly involved with another woman while dating Church. Both women knew about the “arrangement,” which both disapproved of, prosecutors said.

Fowler’s son testified that Church even created a voodoo doll of the other woman, which she would stick pins in and throw.

Leading up to killing, Church would make dark jokes about poisoning Fowler, even telling a family member, “If he ever cheats on me, I’ll poison him,” prosecutors said.

On Nov. 11, 2022, Church called 911 requesting an ambulance for a sick Fowler. First responders found the victim unable to stand due to his condition. Doctors later determined he had antifreeze in his body, prosecutors said.

According to video footage shown to the jury, Church filmed Fowler in agony, asking him: “Are you having fun?”

Fowler died two days later, the DA said.

When authorities searched the former couple’s home, they found an empty Powerade bottle with peculiar liquid inside. Investigators determined it was antifreeze, and testing confirmed Church’s DNA on it, Boston.com previously reported.

Church’s attorneys did not respond to a request for comment Thursday night.