Texts expose plot to poison Harold Allen’s root beer float

Marsha Allen (obit), Ashley Nicole Jones (Jackson County Sheriff’s Office), Harold Allen (obit)

Explosive text messages show that a woman plotted to murder her mother’s husband by ordering a “toxic” plant off of Etsy and poisoning the man’s root beer float with a compound used in antifreeze, as a way to “get all his retirements and savings,” Indiana sheriff’s deputies alleged in a probable cause affidavit.

Investigators with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department said they learned that the plot to murder Harold “Peanut” L. Allen Jr., 52, was put in motion as early as the start of November 2022, when Ashley Nicole Jones, a 29-year-old Missouri woman who will turn 30 on Nov. 22, allegedly began researching “various poisons.”

A criminal information specifically alleged that Jones intentionally killed Harold Allen by poisoning the victim’s root beer between Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, 2022, and that she “did purchase ethylene glycol, and/or did research various poisons, and/or did advise Marsha Allen about the effects on the human body of various poisons” in furtherance of the conspiracy to murder starting on or around Nov. 1, 2022.

Deputies said that when they responded to a call about an unconscious person at a home in Freetown on Dec. 20, 2022, they initially did not suspect foul play in Harold Allen’s death.

Everything changed on Sept. 19, 2023, when deputies were called to the same residence by homeowner Marsha Allen, Harold Allen’s wife. Marsha said that her home was burglarized.

Two men, 29-year-old Steven White and 28-year-old Nathaniel Napier, were identified as the burglary suspects, but it’s what White told investigators that changed deputies’ entire view of Harold Allen’s death.

Nathaniel Kane Napier, Steven Andrew White (Jackson County Sheriff’s Office)

According to the affidavit, Steven White told a lieutenant that Ashley Jones told him Marsha Allen murdered Harold Allen by poisoning him. White also claimed that Jones recruited him to burglarize her mother’s home.

The next day, Marsha Allen spoke with a detective and denied murdering her husband, even consenting to a “download of her phone,” the affidavit said.

“In Marsha’s cell phone there were many text messages, beginning in November, 2022, between Marsha and Ashley in which the two discussed poisoning Harold. Ashley was living with Marsha at 3287 N State Road 135, Freetown Indiana until some time after Harold died on December 20, 2022,” documents said.

Among a series of Nov. 27, 2022 texts was one where Marsha told Ashley she needed “foxglove seeds.” The affidavit note that “all parts” of the foxglove plant’ “are toxic, and death can result from ingestion.”

Jones allegedly cautioned that “foxglove seeds are traceable,” as documents put it. On the same day “and around the same time” as the text exchanges about the foxglove plant, Marsha Allen googled “what happens if you eat foxglove seeds,” “How much foxglove is fatal,” and “How long does foxglove take to kill you.”

On December 2, 2022, just days later, Jones allegedly texted her mother “You can’t touch the plant” and advised her that wearing gloves was necessary.

“I know I need to wear gloves and have some time alone to prepare the root,” Jones allegedly texted, seemingly not realizing that texts are also traceable.

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While this was happening, Ashley and Marsha also decided to order ethylene glycol to poison Harold, court documents said.

“Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting compound used in consumer products, including antifreeze. Ingestion of ethylene glycol can result in death in humans,” the affidavit said.

Jones allegedly reacted gleefully to the arrival of the “mail” by texting her mother on Dec. 19, 2022. Authorities said text evidence also showed that Marsha later confirmed her husband was “all in for root beer floats.”

“Ashley sends Marsha a message saying, ‘The mail is here :).’ Marsha ‘loved’ the image, which means that she responded to Ashley’s text with a heart emoji,” the affidavit said. “Later on December 19th, 2022, Marsha sends a text to Ashley telling her, “Hes (sic) all in for root beer floats.”

The next day, Harold Allen died “before the emergency call was placed,” authorities concluded.

The affidavit said that Ashley Jones went on to be arrested at her Missouri residence on Oct. 3, 2023 on suspicion of being involved in the burglary from Sept. 2022.

After she was extradited and booked into the Jackson County Jail in Indiana, Jones allegedly told investigators that her mother “put the root of the Foxglove into chili and a brownie” and that the plant was ordered off of Etsy.

Jones admitted that she ordered the ethylene glycol but claimed her mother was the one who ultimately poisoned Harold Allen’s root beer float with the compound, the affidavit said.

“Ashley advised Marsha told her that Harold drank all the root beer float. When asked about the December 20th, 2022, 7:55 AM text message where Marsha asked Ashley to come here, Ashley said that Marsha told her that Harold acted drunk and loopy,” court documents said. Five hours passed before Marsha called an ambulance, by which time Harold was deceased.”