Indiana Supreme Court Declines to Hear Woman’s Appeal in Poisoning Death

January 23, 2013

The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of a woman convicted of fatally poisoning her estranged husband to collect on an insurance policy.

Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash tells The Republic the court’s refusal last week her to hear 54-year-old Tami Duvall’s appeal means her only recourse now is seeking post-conviction relief by arguing a new point, such as ineffective counsel.

A Bartholomew County jury convicted Duvall in April 2011 on murder, insurance fraud and obstruction of justice charges in the 2007 poisoning death of Alan Duvall. She’s serving a 60 1/2-year sentence.

Prosecutors said Duvall purchased a $100,000 life insurance policy a month before her husband was found dead at their Jeffersonville home after eating food she had laced with morphine and muscle relaxants.