JONESBORO, Georgia — A Georgia man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for poisoning his children to extort money from Campbell’s Soup Co.
JONESBORO, Georgia — A Georgia man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for poisoning his children to extort money from Campbell’s Soup Co.
William Cunningham was sentenced Thursday after a jury found him guilty on seven counts of aggravated assault for forcing the children in 2006 to eat soup laced with prescription drugs and lighter fluid.
His 3-year-old son and 18-month-old daughter were hospitalized twice. A family member said the youngsters may suffer lifelong respiratory problems from lung damage caused by the lighter fluid.
Cunningham’s wife has since divorced him.
Cunningham pleaded guilty in 2007 to a federal charge of making false claims against Campbell’s Soup by threatening to sue them over the contaminated soup.
______
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.