James Paul Leach: Florida man allegedly poisons nephew's meatball sandwich using eyedrops

TAMPA, FLORIDA: James Paul Leach was taken into police custody for allegedly poisoning his nephew's meatball sandwich because he "hated" him.

Prior to his attempt to harm his nephew, he openly expressed his animosity towards him while talking to a store employee as he was purchasing Visine eyedrops, which he intended to use to poison his nephew.

What did James Paul Leach do to kill his nephew?

James Paul Leach and his nephew reside together, as reported by Law&Crime. Leach explicitly conveyed his hatred for his nephew to an employee, a sentiment expressed while he was purchasing Visine eyedrops, typically used for dry eyes.

The employee reported witnessing Leach open the eyedrop container and pour its contents onto the meatballs within a sandwich. Following this, the employee cautioned that ingesting the eyedrops could be harmful.

However, after the warning, the accused reportedly said that it would only result in the victim "s**tting himself or puking his brains out."

According to the National Poison Center, even small amounts of tetrahydrozoline, found in Visine, can cause sleepiness and breathing difficulties in young children, while larger quantities may lead to serious heart rhythm and respiratory issues in teenagers and adults, potentially becoming life-threatening.

Following Leach's departure from the establishment, the employee promptly contacted the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

What happened to James Paul Leach’s nephew?

Shortly after the employee's call, law enforcement responded to the unnamed business, as detailed in the affidavit, and examined surveillance footage that unequivocally depicted Leach pouring the eyedrops onto the sandwich. 

By tracing his prior purchases and deliveries from the establishment, the police successfully identified Leach and obtained his address. Officers visited Leach's residence in Pinellas Park and informed his nephew about the tainted food. 

The nephew had consumed only a small portion of the sandwich at that point and declined medical assistance. Subsequently, Leach was apprehended. However, he demanded legal representation and refused to engage with the police. 

The affidavit revealed a lengthy history of domestic-related issues between Leach and his nephew, prompting multiple responses from deputies to their residence. Leach is currently held at the Pinellas County Jail on a $50,000 bond.