Melody Felicano Johnson: Woman spared jailtime as husband she tried to poison didn't want her imprisoned

TUCSON, ARIZONA: Netizens are outraged after a 39-year-old woman from Arizona escaped jailtime for attempting to murder her husband with poisoned coffee.

Melody Felicano Johnson was arrested on July 18, 2023, and indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree attempted murder, attempted aggravated assault, and poisoning food or drink. 

In April 2024, she pleaded guilty to two counts of adding a harmful substance to food or drink for her husband Roby Johnson. She was sentenced to three years of probation.

Why did Melody Felicano Johnson not get jailtime?

As reported by People, Melody Johnson's attorney previously stated that she confessed to adding trace amounts of bleach to her husband's coffee pot on two occasions in 2023. 

Pima County Superior Court Judge Javier Chon-Lopez sentenced her to three years of probation along with mental health treatment, referencing a statement from her now-estranged husband expressing his desire to avoid prison time for her. 

Melody had already spent nearly a year in jail due to her inability to post a $250,000 bond. Prosecutors had requested a high bond, citing concerns about her being a flight risk, especially after she recently purchased a home in the Philippines.

Roby Johnson found an unusual taste in his coffee

The allegations against Melody stemmed from an incident in March 2023 when her husband, Roby, detected an unusual taste in his coffee. 

During this time, the couple resided in Germany with their child, as Roby served in the US Air Force. 

Suspecting foul play, Roby resorted to using pool testing strips and installing video surveillance cameras in their home to gather evidence, as documented in court records from August 2023. 

Surveillance footage purportedly captured Melody adding bleach to a container and then pouring its contents into the coffee machine.

Analysis of the coffee using pool testing strips revealed elevated levels of chlorine.

Despite being aware of the poisoning, Roby chose to delay reporting the incident until his family returned home to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. 

Subsequent investigations uncovered a container emitting a bleach-like odor beneath Johnson's bathroom sink and alleged bleach residue inside the coffee machine, according to NBC reports. 

Although Melody and her husband were cohabitating at the time, they were in the midst of divorce proceedings. Investigators disclosed that Roby suspected Melody of attempting to murder him for the purpose of obtaining “death benefits”.

Internet demands 'life in prison' for Melody Felicano Johnson

After surveillance footage showing Melody adding poison to her husband's coffee was leaked on social media, many internet users have shared their perspectives.

One said, "We really do have a terrible justice system. She should have gotten 30+years-, a man would've. She will do this again."

Another claimed, "Wait?! Three years probation for attempted pre-meditated murder? That makes ZERO sense."

The third user penned, "She should be locked up for life… Removed from society."

The fourth added, "That’s insane. If he hadn’t checked he’d likely be dead and she gets probation? That’s attempted murder!!"

The last user added, "She should get life in prison. She intentionally tried to kill him."

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