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Punta Gorda Man Accused Of Poisoning Niece, Nephew

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By CHRIS GERBASI

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: December 13, 2008

Richard Massey

PUNTA GORDA - A Punta Gorda man has been charged with lacing the food and drinks of a niece and nephew with antidepressants, police said.

Richard Lee Massey, 29, of Ames Street, was arrested Wednesday on two counts of aggravated child abuse and two counts of poisoning food or water. He was released Thursday on $3,000 bond.

Massey denied any knowledge of the matter and declined to talk to detectives, police spokesman Troy Bettencourt said, adding that officials are cataloging 50 bottles of prescription medicine found in a search of Massey's home.

Massey, who is employed by Sun Newspapers, is the uncle and custodial guardian of 16- and 13-year-old girls and an 8-year-old boy, Bettencourt said.

He had threatened to lace the two younger relatives' food and drink with antidepressants, saying, "You guys need it," according to the police report.

Tuesday night, the 13-year-old noticed a white substance floating in a soda she had left unattended.

She drank it, but later felt dizzy and nauseous, so the next day she went to the nurse at Punta Gorda Middle School. The nurse found she had a rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure, the report said.

The girl was taken to Charlotte Regional Medical Center, where toxicology tests found tricyclics, a class of antidepressants, in her system. The 8-year-old boy was also brought in, and the drug was found in his bloodstream as well, the report said.

The siblings were treated and released. The 16-year-old said she felt fine and had not been poisoned, Bettencourt said. All three children were placed with another relative.

A man answering Massey's phone number hung up on a reporter Friday. Attorney Russell Kirshy represented Massey at his first court appearance, but has not been retained by Massey, Kirshy's office said. Kirshy did not return a phone call.

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