Woman Allegedly Poisoned Acquaintance’s Tea During Restaurant Meeting Over Suspicious Bank Activity

What began as a meeting to discuss suspicious financial transactions took a frightening turn when a New Jersey woman allegedly drank drug-laced tea, collapsed outside a restaurant, and later awoke in a hospital with no memory of how she had gotten there. The disturbing incident has led to criminal charges against a 52-year-old woman and raised serious questions about what happened during a meeting between two acquaintances who shared access to financial accounts.

According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the two women arranged to meet at a restaurant in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on September 8, 2026. The alleged victim had discovered unauthorized activity in financial accounts to which Rohweniven Bacani, of Hackensack, also had access. The women reportedly planned to discuss the suspicious transactions, but the meeting ended in a medical emergency that would trigger a weeks-long criminal investigation.

When the woman arrived at the restaurant, Bacani was already there, and a cup of tea was reportedly waiting for her. The woman drank some of the beverage but stopped after noticing an unusual taste. As she was leaving the restaurant, she suddenly collapsed. She later regained consciousness in a hospital, unable to remember how she had arrived there. According to authorities, she remained hospitalized for several days before beginning her recovery.

The investigation began on September 11, after Leonia police received information about a resident who had been hospitalized following a serious medical emergency suspected to involve poisoning. The woman reportedly told investigators that she believed Bacani had put something in her drink during their earlier meeting. Leonia police subsequently worked with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

After several weeks of investigation, detectives alleged that Bacani had added a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that includes sedatives, to the tea. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific substance allegedly used or the amount involved. The investigation also centered on the financial dispute that had prompted the women to meet, although officials have not detailed the suspicious transactions or announced separate charges relating to the accounts.

Bacani was charged with third-degree aggravated assault on October 14 and arrested outside her home in Hackensack the following day. She was taken to Bergen County Jail pending her first court appearance. The case involved investigators from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Leonia Police Department, with assistance from the Fort Lee Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors reported that the alleged victim was recovering.

As the case moves forward, investigators will continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged poisoning and the financial activity that preceded it. For the victim, what should have been a conversation about her accounts instead resulted in days in the hospital and a frightening loss of memory. Bacani has been accused of a serious crime, but the allegations have yet to be tested in court, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Source: PEOPLE – Woman Allegedly Poisoned Acquaintance’s Tea at Restaurant