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Background: The Eternal Spring of Gilbert facility where Danielle Crosbie-Davidson was discovered deceased (Google Maps). Inset: Justin Davidson (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office).
The husband of a woman found dead at a dementia care facility in Arizona allegedly poisoned her with a slushy laced with sleeping pills.
The Maricopa County District Attorney declared in a press release the indictment of Justin Davidson, aged 46, on a charge of first-degree murder concerning the death of his wife, Danielle Crosbie-Davidson, whose age was not mentioned. The release indicated that Crosbie-Davidson was receiving long-term care for advanced dementia at the Eternal Spring of Gilbert facility. She was discovered deceased in her room on June 11, with her husband present in the room at that time.
According to court documents acquired by KPHO, a local CBS affiliate, facility staff observed a decline in Crosbie-Davidson’s health after her husband’s arrival and reported to police witnessing “suspicious marks” on her. Upon finding her deceased, they noted that her tongue was blue.
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According to the court documents, facility staff told police that Davidson — who is a resident of California — allegedly told them that he “did not want them to feed” his wife. He also reportedly locked the door to his wife’s room, which staff told him to stop doing so they could continue to check on her.
After Crosbie-Davidson was found dead, staff members reportedly found bruising on the side of her neck, which raised their suspicions. They called police, who questioned Davidson.
It apparently did not take long for the widower to confess.
Police said that Davidson allegedly admitted to a failed attempt to kill his wife with an intentional overdose of 50 to 60 crushed Oxycodone pills, for which she had a prescription. But despite the large amount of the powerful opioid, Crosbie-Davidson did not die after Davidson fed them to her in her food.
According to court documents, Davidson then allegedly confessed to buying over-the-counter sleeping pills at Target and dissolving them in a blue flavored frozen ice drink from Arizona fast-food chain Eegee’s. He also allegedly confessed to smothering his wife with a pillow until she stopped breathing.
KPHO reported that Davidson had previous altercations with his wife that involved police while the couple lived together in Southern California, per court records.
Davidson was booked into the Maricopa County Jail, where he is being held on $1 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 11.
