Gibbs, MO - Robert William Sapp, 18, wanted to get rid of his grandmother, but now he won’t have to. On Friday, Sapp was arrested and charged with attempted murder for putting antifungal spray into the coffee of 74-year-old Wilma Kelsey back in early September. Then Wilma Kelsey died in a car accident on September 17. Careful what you wish for, Robert.
Mrs. Kelsey and her husband, James Smith, went to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office early in September to file a report claiming that Sapp had poisoned them. According to the arrest affidavit, Sapp told one of his teachers that he was spraying antifungal spray in his grandparents’ coffee in order to poison them, saying that they were “rude” and “always told (him) what to do”. In addition to the poisoning, Sapp made verbal threats on a child who also lived in the home with him and his grandparents.
The coffee was turned over to authorities for testing, and Smith said he and his wife suffered a few days of nausea and diarrhea, but “we were fine after we quit using the coffee”.
Two weeks later, on September 17, Wilma Kelsey had been to the doctor that morning. That afternoon, she was driving along U.S. Highway 63 when her car crossed the median and hit a truck head-on. Kelsey died, but no autopsy was immediately conducted.
Testing is pending on the coffee, but James Smith does not want his grandson charged with murder. Smith says that in the twelve years Sapp lived with him and Kelsey, he was only violent that one time, and that Kelsey had blood work earlier in the day that did not show poison in her system.
Of course, Smith doesn’t say what kind of blood work was done, but I’m guessing it was not an in-depth chemical panel designed to detect poisons. Furthermore, Smith says that he and the family have not approved an autopsy and do not plan to have one done. The Adair County coroner confirmed this, saying that no autopsy is currently on his schedule. He also said that blood drawn just after the accident didn’t show poison - but again, he doesn’t say what kind of toxicology was done.
Smith maintains that he believes Wilma Kelsey died of “natural causes”, but doesn’t know which natural cause it was that made her nod out at the wheel shortly after a doctor’s visit. Could it be a coincidence? Absolutely. Could the poison have caused organ damage that went undetected? Also yes. Even without active poison in her system, it’s entirely possible that Kelsey died of aftereffects of the poisoning.
I smell something, and it’s not coffee. Is it just me, or is this kind of weird? It’s like the family - or at least Grandpa - would rather not know exactly what killed Wilma Kelsey than be sure. They’d rather let Robert Sapp live under suspicion - or get away with murder.
I wonder why.
Robert William Sapp is being held in the Adair County Jail on $100,000 cash bond.
15 responses so far ↓
1
Peeperann
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:05 am -Wow. I can understand Grandpa not wanting to think that baby boy could have really done this, but denial much?
If he could poison his grandparents once, what makes grandpa think he couldn’t have done it again? Have they checked the car to make sure it was in good running order and that the break lines weren’t cut or something else wasn’t wrong with the car?
This little freak needs to be put away, either in prison or a mental institution……
2
captainhowdy
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:29 am -Yikes!! His shirt is scary. So’s his hair. And his face. And that whole trying to murder his grandparents thing? Yeah, that’s kinda scary, too. :oP
I agree w/ Peeperann, check that car out. Also, please, this kid obviously needs help. Good Lord. I guess Grandpa is grieving for his wife and doesn’t want to “lose” the kid, too, even if he is a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
3
sugarglider
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:52 am -Whatever, this kid is a POS who needs some massive intervention before he does something even worse to someone else. The grandfather is an extremely irresponsible person for being in denial about that fact.
4
So Jaded
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:08 am -The kid looks like he would fit right in on an episode of Leave It To Beaver.
WTH is up with grandpa? Was grandma such a terrible person that nobody really cares that she’s dead? If they took the time to file a report at the P.D. you would think that they wanted this kid held responsible for the poisoning. I don’t get it….
5
DeziDoo
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:15 am -Well I don’t know if it was foul play or not, but if you were her husband, wouldn’t you want to know? That just seems weird to me. Sort of like Cindy Anthony - she already lost one, doesn’t want to lose another.
6
CassieMomma
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:29 am -Seriously, he’s got some issues. Also very sad that Grandpa is in such denial or maybe he’s scared for his life…….Either way this kid needs to be off the streets.
7
OMG
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:42 am -I Absoultly think the kid should be in jail. Anyone that has the thought process of poisoning a 75 yr old couple because they were “rude ” to him should be put behind bars.
I don’t believe that Gramps is trying to cover or deny, or scared for his life. I thinks he wants his wife to rest in peice. she was 75 yrs young. Im sure the foot spray didnt help the cause but sometimes things just happen. If hes ok with not knowing than so am I. I hope the kid gets what he deserves.
8
CassieMomma
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:52 am -Well maybe, and your right 75 yrs isn’t that old anymore. Some people live another 15 years or so. I feel bad for him, his life has just changed very drastically. Regardless to not want to do anything about the grandkid is not the right decision as his life could be in danger. This kid is a freak!
9
OMG
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:55 am -Absolutly the kid is thrown OFF.
I’m sure that its out of gramps hands. The state should press charges wheather he likes it or not. His world changed and losing his grandson probably scares him more than him thinking is going to kill him. The kid should seek counseling in an state prison. As well should gramps with the exception of prison
10
saltwatergirl
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:11 pm -If I were Gramps, I’d sleep with one eye open and the 38 under my pillow!!
11
lifino
Oct 8, 2008 at 3:42 pm -I know as a grandparent I tend to try to “rescue” my grandkids even when they probably don’t deserve it. There is a special bond between grandparents and grandkids that is different than your children. You always want to believe the best when it comes to them. The old saying “Spoil them and send them home” is a motto I live by. All too often what happens is when grandparents end up raising the grandkids and don’t get to do the send them home part, these children turn into spoiled rotten brats who put spray in Grandma and Grandpa’s coffee because something didn’t go their way.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not blaming the grandparents. Robert needs to be held accountable for what he did but I don’t believe he actually intended to kill grandma. There are alot better ways to kill people we read about them everyday here.
As for the autopsy I have read autopsy reports for my 44 year old brother who died suddenly of a heart attack and also my 53 year old mother. What they do to the body is horrible and it killed me to read their reports but for my own and my families medical history I needed to know. When my brother died it was a very painful decision to allow the autopsy because of this. I can see grandpa not wanting it done on his wife.
12
CassieMomma
Oct 8, 2008 at 3:59 pm -I can see what your saying Lifino, but when it comes to your spouse, that is your life partner, your world, your everything etc. I would think he would be disguested that he lost her and possibly killed by him because he had tried to poison her before. Who knows, but there is something more than we know (if it’s about the grandkid or the grandfather).
Also I understand all too well your “spoil them and send them home” mentality everytime I get my daughter back from her grandparents
13
hunnie
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:50 pm -anybody ever think for a minute it might’ve been GRANDPA….???
*wink*wink*
14
porcelain
Oct 9, 2008 at 11:22 am -“he only tried to poison me once”
“he’s a good kid”
Fuck that!
HE WAS TRYING KILL HIS GRANDPARENTS
This little swine shit needs to be locked up for life..
Who’s to say that next time he doesn’t get his way he won’t do this again?
15
philly_phan
Oct 11, 2008 at 7:26 pm -Amazing so many grandparent’s are raising their kid’s kids! Ungrateful bastards…he should have wanted his parents dead and not his poor Grandma!
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