Florida Woman Accused of Killing Husband with Sulfuric Acid in Premeditated Attack
Chuanying He, a 50-year-old woman from Florida, has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly pouring sulfuric acid on her husband, resulting in his death days later from severe chemical burns.
The New Port Richey Police arrested He last Thursday after responding to a 911 call she made, admitting she had used the dangerous chemical to harm her husband, 65-year-old Robert Heyden.
According to the arrest affidavit cited by the Tampa Bay Times, officers arrived to find Heyden trapped in a bedroom, screaming for help. Police say He had barricaded the door using a wooden bar and a wire attached to the doorknob, effectively preventing him from escaping.
Heyden, who was still conscious at the time, told police his wife had tried to kill him. He suffered “extensive” chemical burns and was rushed to the hospital, where he died Sunday morning after days of treatment.
Court records show that the couple married in August 2024, but Heyden filed for divorce in March 2025. A hearing was scheduled for the day after the attack, and Heyden had requested a court order for exclusive use of the home.
The affidavit states that He admitted to deliberately pouring the acid on her husband while he was lying in bed, then fleeing the room and locking him inside.
“The evidence showed a clear motive and evidence of planning,” investigators wrote. “Obtaining the chemical, pouring it on [Heyden] while he was lying down in bed, and then fleeing to barricade the door all show premeditation.”
The couple’s home had been the site of multiple domestic disturbance calls, according to Detective David Crowell of the New Port Richey Police Department.
“It does look like we have been out there numerous times for verbal domestic [incidents],” Crowell said. “No arrests were made, but it was clearly a troubled household.”
Chuanying He remains in custody at Pasco County Corrections, facing charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery causing serious bodily injury.
