Attempt to poison teen is suspected
Hurst: Understudy accused of targeting lead in school play
07:39 AM CST on Friday, February 17, 2006
By PAUL MEYER / The Dallas Morning News
In the play, a character threatens another with some seltzer and a spritz of hemlock.
At L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, an 18-year-old theater understudy may have taken the idea of a poison potion too far.
Hurst police are investigating claims that the senior used a concoction of Mountain Dew and a bleachlike chemical in an attempt to sicken the 15-year-old lead actress and assume her place.
Assistant Police Chief Richard Winstanley says the soda was offered as a gift a week ago, before the performance of Ha!, a series of three one-act comedies.
When the sophomore opened the bottle, the foul odor quickly gave the plan away. It was brought to the attention of a teacher and the school principal.
"To us, initially, it smelled like there was bleach in there," Chief Winstanley said.
"We assume the attempt was to have the lead not be able to participate and have the understudy take her place."
Judy Everett Ramos, a spokeswoman for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district, said Thursday that the senior has been removed from the campus. She will spend the rest of the year in an alternative school setting.
Ms. Ramos said the student will be able to graduate but will not participate in graduation ceremonies, prom or other activities.
So far, no criminal charges have been filed as police await tests of the substance.
The 18-year-old could face charges of tampering with a consumer product, Chief Winstanley said. The charge is a second-degree felony.
And if the chemical turns out to be bleach, he said, it could have done some serious damage.
"You're going to burn your esophagus all the way down," he said. "It's caustic."
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