Judy Church was aware of her boyfriend Leroy Fowler’s involvement with another woman but opted to remain in the relationship hoping he would eventually choose her. Church and Leroy had been in a relationship for approximately a decade, starting when Leroy, after his divorce, became a tenant in Church’s residence in Salisbury, Massachusetts. Church, a former teacher, was the primary provider in the relationship and often showered Leroy with gifts, including a motorcycle.
For eight years, Leroy had been in a relationship with Barbara Randall, whom he reconnected with on Facebook. Despite Church’s discontent with this secondary relationship, Leroy continued to see Barbara intermittently. Church even attempted to persuade Barbara to end the affair, describing Leroy as self-centered and manipulative.
On Leroy’s 55th birthday, November 11, 2022, Church called 911, claiming that Leroy was seriously ill, possibly due to ingesting a harmful substance. Leroy exhibited confusion and pain, leading to his hospitalization, where doctors discovered signs of antifreeze poisoning, which led to organ failure and eventually his death.
Suspicions arose regarding Church’s involvement in Leroy’s poisoning, fueled by Leroy’s family’s accusations and Leroy’s previous concerns about Church potentially poisoning him. Subsequent investigations uncovered evidence linking Church to the crime, including antifreeze found in Leroy’s body and a Powerade bottle with traces of antifreeze and Church’s DNA. Additionally, videos filmed by Church of Leroy suffering and a staged photo of him in the hospital bed with birthday gifts raised further suspicions.
Church was arrested and charged with Leroy’s murder. At the trial, prosecutors described the love triangle between Church, Leroy, and Barbara as toxic and dysfunctional, alleging that Church had deliberately used antifreeze as a murder weapon. The court learned that Church delayed seeking medical help for Leroy while he was in distress, instead capturing his suffering on video.
Following a trial, Church was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Leroy’s loved ones expressed their grief and disbelief over the tragic events, emphasizing the pain caused by losing a loved one to such a heinous act.