Bail set for woman who drugged a vet

Last Update: 11:16 am 

Sandra Kirk
Fox16.com
 

http://www.fox16.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?articleID=73987

 A woman is in jail after police say she drugged her boss. Police say an employee from the Reynolds Road Animal Clinic slipped valium into one of the veterinarians cups of coffee sending him to the emergency room.

Shortly after Dr. John Duckett had some, coffee he knew something was wrong. Employees at the clinic tell police they thought he was having a heart attack, but it turns out he had been drugged by one of his own. There are certain things you expect to find in your morning cup of Joe like sugar and creamer, but not drugs.

Veterinarian Dr. John Duckett knew something didn't feel right while working Tuesday morning at the Reynolds Road Animal Clinic in Bryant. That's when someone from the clinic called 911.

"He knew he hadn't taken any medication, he hadn't taken any prescription pills. He had suspected that he had been poisoned at his office," says Todd Crowson with the Bryant police.

Now 24-year-old Erin Kelly is behind bars after telling police she drugged Duckett because, “he needed to chill out.”
"She came in this morning and we talked with her and she ended up telling us what happened, pretty much confessing," Crowson said. “She actually admitted to putting a substance in his coffee which turned out to be a benzodiapine.”

Benzodizapines, like valium, are tranquilizers. They can reduce inhibitions, typically used for reducing stress or anxiety.  We're told Kelly worked at the clinic cleaning cages. Now she's in one.

"I have never seen anything like this happen. This is the first time I've worked anything like this," said Crowson.

FOX16 spoke to Dr. Duckett on the phone but he didn't want to comment on what happened.

Kelly's bond has been set at $25,000.  Saline County Prosecutor Ken Casady asked for bond to be set at $100,000.  Kelly's next court appearance is April 21st at 1PM.