SALEM, Mass. (Court TV) — A Massachusetts woman has been convicted on charges she murdered her live-in boyfriend by poisoning him with antifreeze.

Judy Church sits in court during her murder trial. (Court TV)

Judy Church, 67, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Leroy Fowler, 55, who died on Nov. 13, 2022. The jury deliberated for more than eight hours before returning a verdict.

Church was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole at her sentencing on April 2.

On Nov. 11, 2022, Church called 911 to report that Fowler “must have ingested something” and was pulling the bedroom apart with a bloody nose. When paramedics arrived, they found the victim with an altered mental status and in medical distress. He was taken to a hospital and died days later when he was removed from life support. When doctors told Fowler’s family that they believed his kidney damage was the result of antifreeze poisoning, they immediately contacted the police.

When police interviewed Church at her home, she refused to let detectives inside the door, choosing to speak to them outside. She denied that Fowler ate or drank anything before the incident; Church’s adult son, Douglas Church, suggested that Fowler had suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Detectives spoke with Fowler’s family, who said that the victim had been in a relationship with Church for years, but that he also had a second girlfriend. Fowler’s stepson told officers that Fowler previously told him that he thought Church could be poisoning him, because “every time he leaves Judy’s residence, he feels better.” The stepson also told police that Church had offered him $10,000 to kidnap Fowler from his second girlfriend’s house, “tie him up, and bring him back to her.”

Fowler’s family told investigators that Church took out a life insurance policy on the victim approximately one year before his death.

DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 9 – 4/2/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Sentencing | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Judy Church was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
  • MORE: Judy Church emotionless as she’s sentenced to life in prison

DAY 8 – 3/30/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Verdict | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• The jury returned a verdict after approximately 8.5 hours of deliberations.

DAY 7 – 3/27/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Day 7 | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Dr. Edmund Crouch, Ph.D.
  • Determined amount of ethylene glycol in Fowler’s system when he first presented.
  • Concluded that Fowler had 28.5 grams of ethylene glycol in his system: 52 miligrams/deciliter
• Dr. Steven Laken, Ph.D.
  • Addressed DNA and how it can be transferred to and from items.
  • Reviewed work generated by the Massachusetts State Police crime lab in the Fowler case.
  • Observed the Massachusetts State Police crime lab conducting various DNA testing.
• Stanley Norkunas delivered closing arguments for the defense.
  • Church and Fowler were in love, but then Fowler began a second relationship with Barbara Randall.
  • Fowler had a number of medical issues and was spiraling downward, he was also using cocaine.
  • Church was a provider; she bought Fowler lots of things, including a motorcycle.
  • The couple was planning to move to Florida.
  • Church provided the police with her iPhone password and email. She was transparent.
  • WATCH: Judy Church ‘Too Smart’ to Leave Poisoned Powerade in Boyfriend Murder Trial: Defense
• Andrew Camelio delivered closing arguments for the prosecution.
  • Church knew that Fowler was unfaithful and told the police when they interviewed her, “He cheats on me.”
  • Loathed Barbara Randall.
  • Recorded video of Fowler “dying” — you would immediately call an ambulance if a person you claimed to love was in that state.
  • WATCH: Extreme ‘Atrocity and Cruelty’: Commonwealth Says Judy Church Poisoned Lover
• The jury began its deliberations.

DAY 6 – 3/26/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Day 6 | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Dr. Richard Atkinson, Medical examiner, forensic pathologist
  • Reviewed the autopsy he performed on Leroy Fowler, as well as his medical records and the known circumstances surrounding his death.
  • Upon internal examination, found a swollen brain, brain stem hemorrhage, heart disease with enlarged heart, atherosclerosis, slight fatty liver disease, discolored kidney tissue/granular surface
  • The presence of calcium oxalate crystals in Fowler’s kidneys led him to believe ethylene glycol poisoning was the cause of death.
  • WATCH: Autopsy Horror: Leroy Fowler’s Kidney Crystals Point to Antifreeze Poisoning
• The prosecution rested its case.
• Michael Kahn, Chemist, MCR Labs
  • Ran tests on denatonium benzoate.
  • MCR Labs is only accredited in dealing with marijuana-related testing.
• The defense rested its case.

DAY 5 – 3/25/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Day 5 | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Daniel Anderson, Forensic toxicologist, NMS Laboratories
  • Tested Fowler’s blood for ethylene glycol; results were 52 mg/deciliter.
  • Powerade was tested and the results were 2400 mg/deciliter.
  • RainX de-icer was found to have 11 mg/deciliter.
  • Orange liquid from Fanta was not tested; the tests were cancelled due to an interfering substance in the analysis.
• Julianna Hooper, Forensic scientist, Massachusetts State Police crime lab
  • Conducted testing on the RainX de-icer and Powerade bottle for DNA.
• Krista Lundgren, Forensic scientist, Massachusetts State Police crime lab
  • Conducted DNA testing on the handle and exterior cap of the RainX de-icer bottle, swabbed the exterior of the Powerade bottle and swabbed the mouth and interior cap of the Powerade bottle.
  • Barbara Randall was excluded from DNA test results.
• John Heywood Jr., Leroy Fowler’s cousin
  • Was with Fowler and Church when Church allegedly said that she would poison Fowler if he cheated on her.
  • Was not close with Fowler, but went to his wake and funeral.
  • WATCH: Judy Church Said ‘If He Ever Cheats, I’ll Poison Him’: Victim’s Cousin

DAY 4 – 3/24/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Day 4 | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Sgt. Louis Williams, Massachusetts State Police
  • Spoke to Dr. Vaz, who was concerned about blood test results, about possible antifreeze poisoning.
  • Listened to 911 call from Judy Church.
  • Interviewed Church and Leroy Fowler’s family members.
  • Reads messages from the notes app on Judy Church’s iPhone.
  • Jury is shown Church’s police interrogation video.
  • WATCH: Accused Killer Girlfriend: Boyfriend Said, ‘I’m Gonna Die, You Know That, Don’t You?’
  • MORE: ‘I did nothing wrong’: Judy Church maintains innocence in police interview

DAY 3 – 3/23/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Day 3 | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Barbara Randall, Leroy Fowler’s other girlfriend
  • Randall testified that she began her relationship with Leroy Fowler approximately eight years ago after reconnecting on Facebook, and the couple had an “off-and-on” relationship.
  • Randall became aware of Church after dating Fowler for approximately six months. She referred to Church with the nickname “Grandma.”
    • MORE: Victim’s second girlfriend testifies she nicknamed the defendant ‘Grandma’
• Michael Hawkins, Leroy Fowler’s “stepson”
  • Saw Leroy Fowler as his stepfather; Fowler got him into construction because he didn’t want to go to school.
  • Fowler told him that he thought Church was poisoning him. He described symptoms such as stomach bloating, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting and difficulty breathing.
    • WATCH: Victim Warned ‘Stepson’ His Girlfriend Was Allegedly Poisoning Him
• Jessica Brown, forensic scientist, Massachusetts State Police
  • Examined evidence, such as the RainX De-Icer and the Powerade bottle.
  • The red Powerade bottle had orange liquid residue.
  • She did not test the liquid in the Powerade bottle.
• Naomi Shin, Nephrologist
  • Addressed Fowler’s test results and acknowledged the victim’s use of cocaine.
  • Discussed how kidney disease impacts health.
• William Eaton, Fowler’s brother-in-law
  • Worked with Fowler at a roofing company.
  • Had a child with Fowler’s sister; Fowler had a child with his sister.
  • Last saw Fowler the day before he was admitted to the hospital and spoke to Fowler later that evening.
• Lt. Richard Dellaria, Salisbury Police Department
  • Entered home and observed Leroy Fowler seated on the floor of the bedroom.
  • Fowler was struggling, grunting and trying to get up.
  • Fowler was unable to answer questions from medical personnel; Church answered questions for him.
  • Did not notice any drugs or paraphernalia.

DAY 2 – 3/20/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Day 2 | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Leroy Fowler III returned to the stand to continue his testimony.
  • Talked about living above Judy Church; he lived with her after his breakup with his child’s mother.
  • Judy Church had voodoo dolls of Barbara Randall and would stick them with pins.
  • MORE: Accused Killer Girlfriend Had Voodoo Dolls of Victim’s Girlfriend: Witness
• Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Massachusetts State Police
  • Conducted digital forensics on Church’s phone.
  • Found videos recorded by Church showing Fowler struggling on the floor.
  • MORE: Murder suspect asks victim, ‘You having fun?’ as he struggles on the floor
• Det. Brian Verney: Salisbury Police Department
  • Spoke with Judy Church.
  • Bodycam footage of the conversation was played in court.
• Angela Scheidegger, Emergency room physician’s assistant
  • Observed Leroy Fowler in the hospital; noticed he was unable to respond. He was incoherent, unable to follow commands and thrashing on the stretcher.
  • Unable to administer a cerebral fluid test because Fowler was uncooperative.
  • Lab work came back with abnormal results.
• Sgt. David Strong, Massachusetts State Police
  • Executed search warrant at the home, which was described as dirty and cluttered.
  • Found several empty bottles, including a De-icer bottle, which previously contained an orange liquid. A Powerade fruit punch bottle, which should have had red liquid, appeared to have had orange liquid in it.
  • Two notebooks were found in the bedroom.

DAY 1 – 3/18/26

• LIVESTREAM: MA v. Judy Church – Day 1 | Death by Antifreeze Trial
• Andrew Camelio delivered the opening statement for the prosecution.
  • The relationship between Judy Church and Leroy Fowler was toxic and horrible because Fowler had another girlfriend, which Church was not happy about.
  • Church wrote in a notebook about Fowler, saying she hated being alone, hated him for lying and called Fowler’s other girlfriend names.
  • Church called the police on Nov. 11, 2022 (Fowler’s birthday), saying he was sick and could not stand or walk properly. Fowler died on Nov. 13.
  • Church told different people different stories about what happened.
  • Police say Church previously threatened to poison Fowler.
  • WATCH: Alleged Killer Girlfriend Said ‘If He Ever Cheats, I’ll Poison Him’: Commonwealth
• Stanley Norkunas delivered the opening statement for the defense.
  • Leroy Fowler left his family and started a relationship with Judy Church while he was a tenant in her home.
  • Fowler began an affair with Barbara Randall, breaking Judy’s heart.
  • Described Judy as a “bit of a fool, not a murderer.”
  • WATCH: Defendant Judy Church is ‘A Bit of a Fool, She’s Not a Murderer’: Defense
• Monica Carnes, Dispatch Coordinator, Salisbury Police Department
  • Received phone call regarding Fowler’s “medical issue.”
  • Sent the call to ambulance, per protocols.
  • The jury heard Judy Church’s 911 call.
  • WATCH: Accused Killer Girlfriend’s 911 Call: ‘My Boyfriend Must Have Ingested Something’
• Adam Foss, Firefighter
  • Entered building and found Leroy Fowler in medical distress and unable to communicate.
  • Rendered aid to Fowler, who was only making noises.
  • Foss’ bodycam footage was shown to the jury.
• Matthew Swemson, Fire Lieutenant
  • Entered apartment and saw Leroy Fowler, moaning and sitting on the floor of the bedroom.
  • He called Fowler’s name, Fowler was unable to answer and was reaching out with his arms.
  • Attempted to get vital signs, but was difficult because Fowler kept moving.
  • Breathing and pulse were fine. He recommended Fowler be transported to the hospital for further care.
• Jonathan Lemke, EMT
  • Took over medical assistance at the scene from firefighters; noticed Fowler was sick, lethargic and confused.
  • Asked Fowler how he was feeling and about possible drug use. Fowler was able to describe how he was feeling and was able to identify himself. He admitted to using Percocet the night before.
  • Transported Fowler to a hospital via ambulance.
• Tammy Carbone, Leroy Fowler’s older sister
  • Knew both Fowler’s girlfriends.
  • Asked Church why she didn’t let her know about Fowler’s condition.
  • During a phone conversation, Church said that Fowler made a comment that Church may have put something in his milkshake.
  • Became suspicious of Church; Church made a comment regarding ‘jokes’ about poisoning Fowler.
• Megan Warthfouse, Registered Nurse
  • Treated Fowler upon his arrival to the hospital; he was in an altered state, confused and unable to follow directions.
• Leroy Fowler III, Victim’s son
  • Had a phone conversation with his father a day before the incident.
  • Said Church would buy Fowler things so he wouldn’t visit his other girlfriend.
  • Fowler liked sweets, but couldn’t really taste them due to a previous COVID infection.
  • Learned his father was in the hospital on Nov. 11 from Church.
  • Saw his father on Nov. 13, when he was on a ventilator.
  • Made the decision with other family members to “pull the plug” and remove Fowler from the ventilator.