Harold Allen and Marsha Buxton married in 7/2021 after reconnecting at their 30-year Austin High School reunion. Harold had two previous failed marriages and no children, while Marsha had a daughter, Ashley Jones.

In 2022, Ashley and her 5-year-old daughter moved in with Harold and Marsha. Ashley's husband had passed away three years earlier from heart disease. Harold happily welcomed them.

Harold Allen and Marsha Buxton married in 2021. *Photo: CBS*

However, just months later, Harold's health began to decline. He experienced gastrointestinal problems and made several visits to the emergency room. During Thanksgiving in 2022, as the family dined, Harold suddenly told his brother that the left side of his face felt numb. His condition continued to worsen in the following weeks, and doctors could not pinpoint an exact cause.

On 20/12/2022, Marsha reported finding her husband motionless on the floor. Harold passed away at 52 years old.

An autopsy concluded Harold died from multiple severe heart issues, including pericarditis. As the death was not considered suspicious, his blood was not tested for toxins at that time.

Had it not been for a theft nine months later, Harold's death might have been classified as natural.

Thief accuses homeowner of murder

On 19/9/2023, while Marsha was on vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, her home security camera system reported an intruder. Through the images, she recognized one of the two thieves as Steven White, a close friend of Ashley. Marsha immediately notified the police.

Investigators observed that the intruders seemed to know the house well, heading directly to specific locations and even knowing the safe's combination.

Just hours later, police located Steven at his mother's home. Initially, Steven denied involvement in the theft. However, when shown photos from the security camera, Steven admitted his participation.

Security camera footage shows two thieves in Marsha Allen's bedroom. Marsha identified the man on the right as Steven White. *Photo: Jackson County Sheriff's Department*

Steven's subsequent testimony, however, surprised the police. He claimed Marsha was a "killer" and that he had heard Ashley recount how Marsha poisoned her husband with a cream soda topped with whipped cream. Steven provided specific details about how the drink was prepared. He stated Marsha went to the kitchen, mixed the drink, added whipped cream and sprinkles, and then poured something from a bottle into it.

Steven testified that Ashley was behind the theft. According to his account, Ashley gave Steven the house keys and the safe code. Police later recovered the stolen items, including guns and jewelry. The second suspect was also found wearing Harold's jewelry.

As Steven's information about the theft was verified, police decided to take the murder accusation against Marsha seriously.

Nearly 7,000 messages detailing the plot

Upon hearing the allegations, Marsha immediately denied them, asserting Steven was fabricating the story.

However, Steven provided an additional clue: messages between Marsha and Ashley might contain evidence related to Harold's death. Investigators asked Marsha for permission to download data from her phone. She agreed, but as the investigators left the room to prepare paperwork, Marsha was captured on camera deleting messages from her phone.

She was unaware that this data could still be recovered.

A camera recorded Marsha Allen deleting messages on her mobile phone while alone in the interrogation room. *Photo: Jackson County Sheriff's Department*

After recovering the data, police found nearly 7,000 messages exchanged between Marsha and Ashley in the three months before Harold's death. According to investigators, these messages indicated that Marsha and Ashley had repeatedly attempted to kill Harold using various poisons.

Through the messages, police discovered Ashley had ordered pong-pong seeds on eBay. These seeds come from a plant native to Southeast Asia, known as the "suicide tree" due to its potent toxins.

As Thanksgiving 2022 approached, the mother and daughter discussed grinding the pong-pong seeds and mixing them into brownies, using walnuts to mask the bitter taste of the poison. Investigators noted that the way they messaged, with jokes and emojis, suggested they were treating Harold's murder as a game.

However, the brownies did not kill Harold. During his repeated emergency room visits for gastrointestinal symptoms, messages between Marsha and Ashley clearly expressed impatience.

One message from Marsha on 28/11/2022 stated she was having trouble sleeping and wanted everything to end quickly. The prosecutor interpreted this to mean Harold was "not dying fast enough."

From toxic seeds to antifreeze

After the pong-pong seeds, messages showed Marsha and Ashley shifted to another toxic plant, which they repeatedly added to Harold's food and drinks throughout December. He still survived.

Subsequently, the mother and daughter turned to ethylene glycol, a chemical used in antifreeze, which is colorless, odorless, and slightly sweet. Investigators believed Marsha and Ashley thought this substance could be introduced into Harold's drinks without him noticing.

According to the indictment, when over 3 liters of antifreeze, priced at USD 31.99, were delivered to their home on 19/12/2022, Ashley messaged her mother: "Parcel arrived :)". Marsha responded with a heart emoji.

This time, they chose Harold's favorite dessert: cream soda. Marsha purchased the ingredients locally and gave Harold the poisoned drink on the evening of 19/12/2022. Harold passed away the following day.

Death after interrogation

Because Harold's death was not considered suspicious at the time, the initial blood sample was not screened for toxins. However, authorities preserved the blood sample for one year, providing police with a crucial opportunity to examine important evidence.

On 16/10/2023, police searched Marsha's home. During an interrogation lasting about four and a half hours, she continued to deny involvement in her husband's death. Investigators presented the messages showing ethylene glycol had been ordered and delivered to Marsha's home on 19/12, one day before Harold died, but she maintained her claim of ignorance.

After the interrogation, Marsha was released to go home.

Concurrently, Ashley was extradited to Indiana on charges related to the theft. When investigators informed her that Harold had been poisoned with ethylene glycol, Ashley's demeanor changed, and she began to reveal some information.

She stated that Marsha did not want to divorce Harold but wanted to "get rid of him completely." Ashley admitted helping her mother purchase ethylene glycol and other poisons online, but claimed she typically followed her mother's requests without asking many questions.

Ashley said she disagreed with her mother's actions but that "loyalty to mother" compelled her to continue.

Meanwhile, after returning home from her interrogation, Marsha committed suicide, leaving a note that read: "I didn't kill my husband. You win Ashley!"

Prosecutors suggested this message might have been Marsha's attempt to leave a final denial of her involvement in her husband's murder. However, investigators believe Marsha may have not wanted to face life in prison after learning Harold's blood sample was being tested.

Ashley Jones was distraught upon hearing of her mother's suicide. *Photo: Jackson County Sheriff's Department*

The sentence

On 18/10/2023, Ashley was arrested on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Toxicology results confirmed police suspicions: Harold had been given a drink containing ethylene glycol.

The motive cited by police and prosecutors was financial. Harold held a life insurance policy worth USD 120,000 and possessed other assets. According to the investigation, Marsha paid Ashley approximately USD 1,000 each month from Harold's death in 12/2022 until around 7/2023. The theft occurred about two months after these payments ceased.

Prosecutors argued that Ashley went to retrieve the money she believed she was owed from Harold's death.

In 8/2025, Ashley accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Steven received a sentence of three and a half years for the theft.

However, the case is not yet closed. After Ashley's sentencing, the sudden death of her first husband, Ty Jones, at 33 years old, came under scrutiny.

His autopsy at the time attributed Ty's death to heart problems, but family members stated he had been in excellent health. They also reported that the day after the funeral, Ashley visited her husband's workplace to inquire about his insurance policy and expressed a desire to receive the money immediately.

Ty's family believes Ashley may have thought she would inherit a substantial sum along with real estate Ty had recently received from his great-grandfather.

After learning Harold died from poisoning, Ty's family contacted police, sharing their suspicion that Ashley might have killed her husband. However, Ty's body was not tested for toxins in 2019 and was later cremated at Ashley's request.

Indiana state police have opened an investigation into Ty's death, noting similarities to Harold's death.

Tue Anh (according to CBS, People)