Mesa homicide detectives are investigating the death of an Arizona man who ingested a cocktail of fish tank cleaner and soda allegedly served to him by his wife.
The man, Gary Lenius, was painted as a victim of President Trump by some in the media after the president touted the potential benefits of “chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine” to treat the coronavirus, the Washington Free Beacon reported Tuesday.
Lenius died in March, and his wife, Wanda, claimed they both drank fish tank cleaner, which contains chloroquine phosphate, after hearing Trump promote the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine.
Early reports on the death linked the incident to the president by failing to make prominent and clear that the couple drank cleaning products rather than the medication.
Friends of Gary Lenius, however, told the publication that he was a sensible man who potentially had marital problems.
“What bothers me about this is that Gary was a very intelligent man, a retired [mechanical] engineer who designed systems for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, and I really can’t see the scenario where Gary would say, ‘Yes, please, I would love to drink some of that Koi fish tank cleaner,'” a friend said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Another friend claimed Wanda Lenius, who was charged but later exonerated of domestic abuse in 2001 after she allegedly hit her husband, “would constantly berate Gary in public. … Everyone was embarrassed for him, but he outwardly did not seem to care much.”
“In our opinion, their marriage was seen outwardly to be as one-sided as a marriage possibly could be: Gary worshiped Wanda,” the friend added.
Homicide detectives are involved, but will not answer questions in regard to their investigation. “As this is an active investigation, I cannot go into any details at this time regarding the case,” Detective Teresa Van Galder told the Washington Free Beacon.
A spokesperson for the Mesa City Police Department told the outlet after publication that it is “normal protocol” for the homicide department to investigate “all death cases (other than obvious natural causes).” The representative added that the death in this case “has not been ruled a homicide at this time.”
Wanda Lenius previously told the Washington Free Beacon she and her husband “weren’t big supporters” of Trump, and campaign finance records show she donated thousands to Democratic causes.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the Mesa City Police Department’s statement that it is “normal protocol” for homicide detectives to be involved in such a case.
