‘Black Widow’ Melissa Ann Shepard, charged with poisoning partners, denied parole

HALIFAX – Melissa Ann Shepard, known as the “Internet Black Widow” for drugging her husband, has been denied parole.

Her pattern of giving drugs to unsuspecting men and using her vehicle as a weapon puts Shepard, who also went by the last name Weeks, a high risk to re-offend, the Parole Board of Canada says.

READ MORE: ‘Internet Black Widow’ Melissa Ann Weeks charged with attempted murder in N.S.

Shepard, now in her 80s, is serving a sentence of three years less time served for administering a noxious thing with intent, and failing to provide the necessaries of life after her husband of only a few days fell ill in 2012. She will have served her full term in early 2016.

Shepard had been charged with attempted murder of her new husband, Fred Weeks; however, she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in 2013.

Weeks and Shepard were on their honeymoon when witnesses noticed Weeks’ motor skills decline from one day to the next. Shepard was told where the nearest hospital was; however, she ignored that and the couple went hack to their room.

In the days that followed, Weeks’ condition got worse, and eventually an ambulance was called. At the hospital, Shepard gave incorrect information to the hospital staff.

Tests on Weeks turned up positive for Lorazepam and Temazapam, both medications which Shepard was in possession of. In addition to the drugs, notes with words like “lawyer,” “power of attorney” and “will” were found.

‘Black Widow’ targeted husbands

Since the 1990s, Shepard has been convicted in three incidents that saw either the death or serious physical/psychological harm to her victims.

In the first instance, she ran over her second husband on a deserted road and didn’t report the incident for hours after.

She was convicted of manslaughter, despite being initially charged with murder in his death.

READ MORE: ‘Black Widow’ pleads guilty to drugging husband

Shepard’s third husband died of an apparent pre-existing medical condition and his remains cremated before an autopsy or toxicology tests could be done.

Before he died, her husband experienced slurred speech and had to be hospitalized, symptoms similar to Shepard’s most recent victim. Family members believed he had been poisoned.

According to court documents, Shepard had “several questionable” prescriptions of Lorazepam. She was investigated, but no charges were laid and without physical evidence, the case was closed.

Shepard’s third husband had named her sole beneficiary in his will shortly before he fell ill.

READ MORE: Alleged victim of Internet Black Widow holds no ill will

In 2005, Shepard contacted an elderly man in need of a caregiver due to a health problem on an internet dating site.

After a relationship began, the man was hospitalized for slurred speech, confusion and multiple falls and was eventually put in a nursing home. Prescription medication was also found in his system.

His family later found that Shepard had taken thousands of dollars from the man’s bank account. Police found a case full of pills in the man’s home, where Shepard had been living.

She was sentenced to five years for elder abuse.