North Carolina suspect in eyedrop-poison murder case charged with helicopter arson

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (TCD) --

A North Carolina man awaiting trial for allegedly murdering his wife with eyedrops in 2018 was arrested this week, accused of starting a fire inside an airborne helicopter in 2019.

Joshua Hunsucker was arrested and charged in December 2019 with first-degree murder in the death of his wife in 2018.

Hunsucker was arrested again on Monday, March 29, in Mecklenburg County, and charged with setting a fire inside a medical helicopter mid-flight.

Hunsucker turned himself in at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, WJZY-TV reports.

Hunsucker was working as a paramedic on an Atrium Health helicopter in November 2019. According to police reports, a syringe pump was set on fire, forcing the helicopter to land off of Independence Boulevard, WSOC-TV reports.

A month later, Hunsucker was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife in 2018.

Hunsucker is accused of putting lethal doses of eyedrops in Stacy Robinson Hunsucker’s drink. Hunsucker had his wife cremated right after her death, without an autopsy.

Stacy Robinson Hunsucker suffered a health issue at her home September 23, 2018, according to prosecutor Jordan Green with the North Carolina Department of Insurance. She was hospitalized, where she was later pronounced dead by heart attack.

A Department of Insurance agent and the medical investigator tested vials of her blood and found high levels of tetrahydrozoline, Green said, “which is one of the active ingredients in a certain eye drop medicine that you would use to clear your eyes.”

Hunsucker filed for the benefits of his wife’s life-insurance policy two days after her death, the Charlotte Observer reports. Hunsucker reportedly collected on a $250,000 life insurance policy on his wife. The couple had two children together.

Hunsucker was charged with arson in Mecklenburg County. He was released on bond. Hunsucker is still waiting to go on trial in Gaston County for his wife’s murder.

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