Jagermeister Kills Man, Blinds Woman

[matcom]

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A Kirkland man died earlier this month and a woman was blinded after drinking from a bottle of Jägermeister that police suspect was poisoned by the man's ex-girlfriend.

The ex-girlfriend, 51, has not been formally charged in the death of Roger Lewis, 56, but she fled to Taiwan after being questioned by police detectives after the Oct. 7 episode, according to documents obtained from the King County Prosecutor's Office.

"The primary suspect has fled the United States," confirmed Kirkland police Lt. Bradley Gilmore, who declined to discuss particulars since the investigation is ongoing.

Kirkland police have arrested a man suspected of helping the woman escape. Douglas Taegue, 54, of Redmond has been charged with rendering criminal assistance and is being held at the King County Jail with bail set at $100,000.

Prosecuting documents show that Taegue paid for himself and the suspect to fly to California on Oct. 12. He later admitted to police that he went with the woman to the airport so she could fly to Taipei, Taiwan, and then allowed police to believe she was still in California.

He also is thought to be responsible for delivering the bottle of liquor to Nina Segphrachanh, 42, who lived with Lewis and was blinded after drinking from the bottle.

Kirkland police detectives interviewed Lewis' ex-girlfriend after he was found dead, according to the court documents. She admitted to giving Taegue a bottle of Jägermeister to take to Segphrachanh.

"Nina said she talked to (the ex-girlfriend) and was told to make sure Roger drank some of the (liquor) because it makes him happy, and to drink it before they went to dinner," the prosecuting documents read.

"Nina said she and Roger drank some of the contents of the bottle. Nina said after drinking the liquid she passed out and woke up blind, and Roger was found dead."

A lab test revealed that the liquor contained Methomyl, a pesticide.

Sufficient evidence exists to charge the woman with first-degree murder and second-degree assault, the Kirkland Police Department said.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/289508_kirklanddeath21.html