Indiana Man Faces Prison for Poisoning Wife's Coca-Cola in Disturbing Plot Involving Her Daughter

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

An Indiana man is facing prison time after admitting to repeatedly poisoning his wife's Coca-Cola beverages, a scheme that authorities say put her at substantial risk of death. The plot, which unfolded over several months in 2021, was designed to render the victim unconscious so that her daughter and a friend could "put on a show" for him, according to reports.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office became involved on January 3, 2022, when the 51-year-old victim reported that she believed she was being poisoned by her husband, Alfred Ruf. Following her complaint, Ruf allegedly confessed to administering an "unknown substance" to his wife, fully aware that it could eventually kill her.
Authorities revealed that the victim had been hospitalized multiple times in 2021, likely due to the poisoning. Although two other individuals were mentioned as persons of interest in what was initially a conspiracy to commit murder investigation, no charges were filed against them. Reports from 2022 indicated that the victim's daughter and her friend were implicated in the scheme, with suggestions that they had encouraged Ruf to spike the drinks and were aware of the ongoing abuse.
Ruf allegedly admitted to drugging his wife's Coca-Cola around a dozen times over several months, with each incident followed by visits from his stepdaughter and her friend, who would "put on a show" for him while the victim was incapacitated. During one such episode that led to Ruf's arrest, the victim tested positive for cocaine, benzodiazepines, and MDMA.
In addition to the poisonings, Ruf reportedly confessed to having a sexual relationship with his wife's daughter, who, along with her friend, suggested the idea of getting the victim "out of the picture" to cash in on life insurance. Ruf also expressed a belief that his stepdaughter might marry him after his wife's death.
Ultimately, Ruf avoided pleading guilty to the top charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Instead, he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery for knowingly inflicting an injury that created a substantial risk of death. This conviction will see the 71-year-old spend four years behind bars, with an additional five years of his sentence suspended, provided he complies with the terms of his probation.
Judge April Drake of the Wayne County Circuit Court acknowledged both aggravating and mitigating factors in the case. She noted that Ruf was aware of his wife's vulnerabilities and had other non-violent options to leave the relationship but chose not to. However, the judge also considered that Ruf had no prior criminal history, showed genuine remorse, and cooperated with authorities. Despite these considerations, the seriousness of his actions resulted in a prison sentence.
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