Missouri jail nurse accused of murdering husband so she could marry inmate

A Missouri jail nurse was charged in the December 2018 death of her husband after she allegedly poisoned him so she could marry an inmate.

Amy Murray, 40, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the death of her husband, Joshua Murray, who she allegedly killed before setting her home on fire as part of an elaborate cover-up, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

On Dec. 11, 2018, authorities in Iberia, Miss., responded to calls of a house fire and discovered the body of Murray's husband inside of the residence, local ABC affiliate KMIZ reports. An autopsy later revealed that the victim died of poisoning before the fire was set.

Police believe Murray killed her husband with antifreeze before starting the fire with an accelerant to cover up his death. She allegedly then left the house with her 11-year-old son and two dogs to go to McDonald's. Murray allegedly told investigators that by the time she came back from the fast-food restaurant, the smoke was too thick for her to go inside and try to rescue her husband.

At the time, Murray was working as a nurse at the Jefferson City Correctional Center when she began having a "romantic relationship" with inmate Eugene Claypool, who was convicted in the 2000 stabbing death of a $1.7 million elderly lottery winner. She allegedly told Claypool in recorded phone conversations that she could have "a life" with him now that her husband was "out of the picture."

Murray was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with her husband’s death and is being held at the Miller County Adult Detention Center on a $750,000 bond.