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Police Open Murder Investigation Into Woman Who Blamed Trump After Giving Husband Fish-Tank Cleaner

Photo illustration by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Photo illustration by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
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By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

April 29, 2020

In early April, the only person talking about it was conservative radio personality Steven Crowder. Now, Arizona detectives are looking into it, too.

Police in Mesa are now investigating the death of Gary Lenius, who ingested fish-tank cleaner and soda, a fatal cocktail apparently given to him by his wife, Wanda. Several in the press, led by NBC News, painted Lenius as a victim of President Donald Trump, who was, at the time, touting the potential benefits if chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in treating symptoms of the novel coronavirus.

The reports over the fatality failed to clearly disclose the fact the Lenius didn’t take hydroxychloroquine. In reality, the Leniuses drank chloroquine phosphate, a chemical commonly used to clean fish tanks.

Crowder contacted NBC News reporter Erika Edwards over the issue:

She was uninterested in what Crowder had to say.

An earlier report from the Washington Free Beacon found Wanda Lenius to be a Democratic donor who recently made a contribution to a “pro-science” super PAC. She had also told the Free Beacon she and her late husband “weren’t big supporters” of the president and those who know the Leniuses said the couple were experiencing marital issues.

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“What bothers me about this is that Gary was a very intelligent man, a retired [mechanical] engineer who designed systems for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa,” one of Gary Lenius’ friends told the Free Beacon. “I can’t really see the scenario where Gary would say, ‘Yes, please, I would love to drink some of that Koi fish tank cleaner.’ It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Mesa homicide detective Teresa Van Galder told the Free Beacon she cannot discuss details of the investigation at this time.

The efficacy of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine — not fish tank cleaner — has not yet been determined. While one informal study at a Veterans Affairs hospital has shown the drug offers no help in alleviating the symptoms of COVID-19, experts with the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons have presented favorable data regarding the drug. Of the 2,333 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine around the globe, 91% of them improved.


WATCH: Media Blame Trump for Fish Tank Cleaner Death

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