Indiana Woman Sentenced to 50 Years for Poison Plot That Killed Stepfather After Five Failed Attempts with Three Toxic Substances
FREETOWN, IN – An Indiana woman will spend decades in prison after plotting with her mother to poison her stepfather to death using a mix of ancient and modern toxins, following several failed attempts over months.
32-year-old Ashley Nicole Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in the death of Harold “Peanut” Allen, who was killed in December 2022 after being poisoned with ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in antifreeze.
Her mother and co-conspirator, 52-year-old Marsha Allen, died by suicide before facing charges.
The Poisoning Plot and Failed Attempts
According to investigators, the mother-daughter duo tried at least five times to kill Harold Allen using three different poisons purchased online.
The plan began in September 2022, when Jones ordered pong pong seeds—which contain the deadly toxin cerberin—from eBay. The seeds, originating from Southeast Asia, were historically used in Madagascar’s “trial by ordeal” ritual, where ingestion was believed to reveal guilt or innocence through death or survival.
In November 2022, Jones and her mother ground the seeds into powder using a coffee grinder and baked them into a batch of brownies.
“It should be noted that Marsha sends Jones a photo message of what appears to be Harold on November 26th. In the photo, there is a half-eaten brownie on a paper plate sitting on Harold’s stomach,”
court records stated.
After eating the poisoned brownie, Harold became violently ill and was hospitalized but survived.
Second Attempt with Hemlock
Unsuccessful with the seeds, the pair turned to another infamous poison — hemlock, the same plant that killed the Greek philosopher Socrates.
On December 8, 2022, the women received their shipment of water hemlock and tried three more times over four days to kill Harold: first by adding it to his chili, then a glass of soda, and finally a margarita.
Despite the repeated doses, Harold survived every attempt.
Frustrated by his resilience, Marsha texted her daughter,
“I am irritated and can’t sleep peacefully. I need this to be over … I wish it would reach its climax and be done lol.”
To which Jones replied,
“Agreed.”
Final Attempt and Death
On December 13, 2022, the duo resorted to ethylene glycol, a deadly compound found in antifreeze. Jones confessed that she ordered the chemical online, while her mother poured it into Harold’s drink.
Days later, on December 20, Harold “Peanut” Allen died at age 52. His obituary described the death as “sudden,” and no foul play was initially suspected.
Discovery of the Plot
The murder remained hidden for nearly a year—until a burglary investigation exposed the deadly conspiracy.
Two men, Steven Andrew White and Nathaniel Kane Napier, were arrested for breaking into Marsha Allen’s home in 2023. White later told police that Ashley Jones had orchestrated the burglary and revealed that her mother had poisoned Harold.
Investigators seized Marsha’s cellphone and discovered text messages between mother and daughter detailing their efforts to kill Harold with multiple poisons.
“On the cell phone, officers found text messages between Marsha and Ashley in which they discussed murdering Marsha’s husband, Harold Allen, by poisoning him in December 2022,”
said Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
In August 2025, Ashley Jones pleaded guilty as part of a deal that dropped the most severe murder counts. She was sentenced to 50 years in prison — 25 years for conspiracy to commit murder and 25 years for attempted murder — by Judge Richard William Poynter of the Jackson County Circuit Court.
Jones received nearly three years of credit for time served and good behavior.
Marsha Allen’s death in October 2023 was ruled a suicide, and prosecutors believe she took her life to avoid prosecution.
Prosecutors described the case as one of Indiana’s most disturbing family murder plots in recent memory, involving methodical planning, historical poisons, and months of failed attempts before success.
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