SON POISONED 72-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WITH FENTANYL IN OAT MILK AND WINE OVER INHERITANCE DISPUTE, PROSECUTORS SAY

A California man will spend decades behind bars after admitting to killing his own mother by poisoning her drinks with fentanyl during a bitter dispute over inheritance money. Investigators say Bradley Dexter first put the powerful drug in his mother’s oat milk. When she survived, he allegedly poisoned her again—this time using wine.

Bradley Dexter, 43, pleaded no contest to first-degree murder in the death of his 72-year-old mother, Kathleen Dexter. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Kathleen was found dead on June 6, 2023, after reportedly experiencing several days of illness. What initially appeared to be an unexplained death eventually became a homicide investigation, with detectives uncovering evidence that pointed toward a disturbing conflict within the family.

A First Poisoning Attempt, Then a Second

According to a police report obtained by The Mercury News, Bradley admitted during an interrogation in September 2023 that he had poisoned his mother.

Investigators said he told police that his first attempt occurred on the day of his son’s high school graduation. He allegedly put fentanyl in Kathleen’s oat milk, but she survived.

He then allegedly tried again, adding fentanyl to her wine. This second poisoning proved fatal.

Kathleen’s grandson reportedly discovered her unresponsive. He told investigators that she had been vomiting for approximately three days before her death, despite having no major medical problems beforehand.

An autopsy later detected fentanyl in her system. Because Kathleen had not been prescribed the drug, investigators suspected that her death was not accidental.

The toxicology findings became a crucial part of the case, helping authorities establish that the elderly woman had died from poisoning rather than an unexplained medical condition.

Dispute Over Inheritance Money

As detectives investigated Kathleen’s death, they interviewed relatives and other people familiar with the family.

According to investigators, several family members described ongoing arguments between Bradley and his mother over inheritance money. Bradley reportedly believed he was entitled to more money following the death of his grandparents in 2018.

Relatives also reportedly suspected that he had been taking Kathleen’s Social Security money. Investigators further learned that Bradley had threatened to kill his mother before her death.

These accounts helped detectives build a picture of the financial tensions that may have contributed to the killing.

Authorities said the dispute over money was a central factor in the case. What should have been a family disagreement over finances allegedly escalated into a crime that cost Kathleen her life.

Family Describes a Mother Who Kept Giving Her Son Chances

Kathleen’s death devastated relatives who remembered her as a mother who continued to care about her son despite his struggles.

Her sister, Pamela Endsley, spoke to local CW affiliate KRON about the case. According to the report, Bradley offered different explanations for why he killed his mother as the legal proceedings continued. At one point, he reportedly claimed he had killed her because she was a “sinner.”

Family members and friends also told the station that Bradley had struggled with drug addiction. They described Kathleen as someone who continued to give him chances, even as difficulties arose in his life.

The allegations have left the family confronting the loss of a woman who, according to those close to her, continued trying to help her son.

Defendant Cites Addiction and Mental Health Crisis

During his sentencing, Bradley spoke about his history of drug addiction and the personal struggles he said he had faced.

He told the court that he had spent three years in jail confronting his addiction and painful experiences from his childhood. He also described being in a mental health crisis and experiencing what he called a state of “psychosis” at the time of the killing.

Bradley expressed remorse for his actions, saying he regretted what happened and wished he could bring his mother back.

His statements came as the court considered the consequences of a killing that prosecutors said was driven by a financial dispute.

Life Sentence With Possibility of Parole

Bradley’s no-contest plea to first-degree murder resulted in a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

He received credit for time already served and will be eligible for parole after approximately 18 years, according to Law&Crime.

A no-contest plea allows a defendant to accept the criminal conviction without formally admitting guilt in the same way as a guilty plea. In this case, it brought the prosecution to a conclusion without a trial.

For Kathleen’s family, the sentence marks a significant step toward resolving the case, but it cannot reverse the loss of their loved one.

Investigators say a dispute over inheritance money preceded a fatal poisoning, and the evidence ultimately led to Bradley’s murder conviction. A woman who reportedly continued to give her son chances died at the hands of the person she had raised.

Source: Law&Crime