Man believed to have died falling down stairs poisoned by wife with eye drops

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Over a month after Steven Clayton’s funeral was held in his backyard, his wife, Lana Sue Clayton, was arrested for his murder.

Steven, 64, was found dead last July 21 on the foyer of his Greek Revival-style house overlooking Lake Wylie in South Carolina, reports the Washington Post. It had been thought that he died from a tumble down the stairs until results of his autopsy arrived.

On Aug. 31, Lana Sue, 52, was charged with killing him after his autopsy showed a high amount of tetrahydrozoline, which is found in nasal decongestant sprays and eye drops. The chemical relieves eye redness.

Lana admitted that she had poisoned Steven’s drinking water with the chemical from July 19 to 21, according to arrest warrants. York County Sheriff spokesperson Trent Faris told ABC News that no motive had been identified yet. She has also been charged with malicious tampering of food, reports The Herald.

The home where the couple lived was valued at $822,000 (P44.3 million) and imitated the design of George Washington’s plantation mansion, Mount Vernon.

Previously, Lana told a local sheriff’s office in May 2016 that she had accidentally shot her husband’s head with a crossbow, reports The Herald. She claimed she was trying to load the crossbow when it fired at Steven who had been sleeping.

She also said he had been mentally abusive and had mood swings. After the incident, Steven said that he was fine and that it was an accident.

Local authorities planned to look into the case again and at the couple’s relationship given the recent development.

Neighbor Ken Sanford told The Herald that Steven had been proud of his wife’s accomplishments and that Lana “seemed like a sweet lady.”  Niña V. Guno /ra

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