In a chilling case of attempted murder, an Alabama chiropractor was found guilty of poisoning his wife with lead in an effort to claim life insurance policies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Brian Mann, 36, was convicted after his wife, Hannah Pettey, 25, testified against him in court. The case revealed disturbing details about Mann’s manipulation and cruel actions toward his wife, leading to the jury’s decision on Thursday.
The Horrifying Poisoning and Its Impact
Hannah Pettey’s testimony was pivotal in the trial. She described how her husband, who had taken out numerous life insurance policies on her life, had poisoned her with lead.
Pettey, who began feeling sick in August 2021, experienced severe symptoms like back and abdominal pain, dizziness, and nausea.
She initially believed Mann was just helping her by providing what he claimed were multivitamins from his chiropractic office. However, her condition worsened, and she eventually discovered that Mann was poisoning her with lead.
As Pettey’s health declined, Mann showed little concern for her well-being, instead focusing on the life insurance policies he had taken out on her. In fact, he even discouraged her from going to the hospital, urging her to avoid medical care while she became sicker.
Pettey revealed that during her illness, Mann appeared to be unusually kind and caring, which only made the situation more deceptive.
She also disclosed how he made her wear ankle weights to cover up the weight she had lost due to the poisoning, knowing that she had to be in good health for her to be insured.
The Lead Poisoning and Its Aftermath
Pettey eventually ended up in the hospital, where doctors discovered that she was suffering from lead poisoning. The lead in her system was so severe that it caused long-term damage, including infertility and ongoing pain in her hands.
Even after her recovery, Pettey continues to struggle with the physical effects of the poisoning. The trauma from this experience left her unable to have children, a painful reminder of what her husband tried to do.
The poisoning attempt was part of a larger, disturbing scheme in which Mann sought to benefit financially from his wife’s death. He had taken out multiple life insurance policies on her, including some with unusually high coverage amounts, and agents had become suspicious of his actions.
State Farm agent Chris Humphreys testified that Mann’s repeated attempts to take out policies on his wife raised red flags, leading to an investigation. Authorities later discovered that Mann had also pursued insurance policies with other companies.
Mann’s Deceptive Behavior and The Trial
Mann’s attempts to cover up his actions extended beyond the poisoning. He even tried to convince others, including authorities, that he and his children were also being poisoned with lead.
Mann went so far as to claim that he had done an X-ray on himself to confirm his suspicions, but when asked to do another X-ray, he became visibly nervous and eager to leave.
The jury deliberated for a few hours before finding Mann guilty of attempted murder. His wife’s powerful testimony, coupled with the evidence from insurance agents and doctors, helped secure the conviction. Mann is now scheduled to be sentenced on August 27.
The trial of Brian Mann highlights a disturbing case of betrayal and manipulation by someone who was supposed to be a trusted partner.
His wife, Hannah Pettey, not only suffered from the physical effects of the poisoning but also from the emotional trauma of realizing her husband had tried to kill her for financial gain.
As Mann now faces sentencing, his wife’s strength and courage in testifying against him have shed light on the true extent of his criminal actions.
