A Dulzura man faces attempted murder charges after it was discovered he gave his wife a chemical typically used to kill rats, authorities said Thursday.
Race Remington Uto, 27, an active duty Navy sailor, was arrested Thursday after a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO).
The arrest came more than two weeks after Uto’s wife was admitted to an area hospital with an unknown illness, SDSO Lt. Lt. Greg Rylaarsdam said. Medical staff was able to determine that the woman had an "extreme level of Thallium in her system." The woman’s current condition was not made available.
Thallium is a heavy metal that has been used as a rat poison and ant killer, Rylaarsdam said.
SDSO detectives believe the woman had ingested the chemical in her food and drink over time and that her exposure to the poison was intentional.
A Hazardous Materials team searched through Uto's home. Evidence from the home allowed them to take Uto into custody, SDSO said.
Uto was booked into the Vista Detention Facility and is being held at $2 million bail. He faces several charges of attempted murder and poisoning. He is scheduled in court Monday.
