Deputies: Woman poisoned husband with eye drop chemical, charged with murder

YORK COUNTY, SC (WBTV) - A woman was charged Friday for killing her husband by poisoning him with a chemical used in eye drops in York County.

According to the York County Sheriff's Office, detectives arrested and charged Lana Sue Clayton with murder and unlawful malicious tampering of food of her husband Stephen Delvalle Clayton between the dates of July 19 to 21, 2018.

Officials say Stephen Clayton died on July 21 from poisoning.

The incident took place at the couple's home in the 4500 block of Island Forks Road in Clover, SC.

The investigation autopsy toxicology tests discovered poisonous levels of Tetrahydrozoline in the body of the victim.

Deputies say Lana Clayton admitted to investigators she administered the substance to Stephen Clayton without his knowledge.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays.

Tetrahydrozoline poisoning happens when a person swallows the product.

According to a 2016 report from the York County Sheriff's Office, the couple were involved in a previous incident where Lana Clayton shot her husband in the back of the head with a crossbow while he was sleeping.

That incident was ruled accidental and "no intent to commit a crime was found," the report states.

Lana Clayton was booked in the York County Detention Center on the murder and food tampering charges.  This case remains under investigation.

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