Indiana man accused of poisoning roommate with windshield fluid after clash about his drinking habits
An Indiana man is accused of killing his roommate by repeatedly spiking her beverages with windshield fluid because she expressed disapproval for his heavy drinking habits.
Thomas Holifield has been charged with murder in the poisoning death of his 64-year-old roommate, Pamela Keltz, who died of methanol poisoning on June 1. He contacted authorities the day prior, confessing to the fatal crime, according to court documents obtained by The (Northwest Indiana) Times on Friday.
Upon learning that Keltz was poisoned, doctors at Franciscan Health in Michigan City adjusted their course of treatment, but she was ultimately declared brain-dead and her family decided to have her taken off life support.
Holifield has since pleaded not guilty in the case, and a judge in October appointed mental health professionals to determine whether he is competent to stand trial. He’s due back in court on Thursday.
According to court documents, Holifield said he and Keltz were once in a romantic relationship, but that he had come to see her as more of a “best friend.” He even rented her a room in his home, but the pair started to clash over alcohol. He was a big drinker, Holified told police, while Keltz did not drink at all.
Holifield added that it was a recurring “point of contention between the two of them” and that he came to feel disrespected by his roommate’s criticism. For revenge, he started putting eye drops into a cup she would often drink soda from, according to court records.
“Thomas noted that the eye drops were not causing severe enough illness,” the documents read. “Pamela would have hallucinations and diarrhea but then recover,” the records state.”
In early May, his tactics escalated after he spotted a bottle of windshield fluid in Keltz’s room. With a bit of research, he learned the product contained methanol, a poisonous chemical, and then poured some into the victim’s 2-liter soda bottles. She almost immediately became sick but recovered after receiving treatment at a hospital.
When she returned home, Holifield told officers that he upped the doses of fluid, with the goal of killing her, according to court records.
Detectives with Michigan City Police reportedly found an empty gallon-size bottle that was full of washer fluid when Holifield allegedly started poisoning Keltz.
