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Years after doctors though man died of heart attack, Baton Rouge woman wanted for his poisoning death

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BATON ROUGE – A warrant was filed for the arrest of a woman who, authorities said, poisoned a man she claimed to be her husband three years ago.

Meshell Hale, of Slaughter, is wanted on second degree murder for the 2015 death of Damian Skipper.

Hale, authorities wrote in the warrant obtained Thursday afternoon by the WBRZ Investigative Unit, used barium acetate to kill Skipper.

Barium acetate is a powerful poison and has been used in high-profile murders in other areas.

Authorities said Hale researched the method and they found evidence in the search history of her electronic devices.

Skipper became ill with abdominal pain in June 2015 was hospitalized and discharged since doctors thought he had a virus. Skipper later died and was buried without an autopsy because his cause of death was labeled as a heart attack by the hospital. His body was exhumed and autopsied and his death was labeled a homicide from poisoning.

Questions about Skipper's death were investigated after a man who appears to be Hale's real husband, Arthur Noflin, also became sick with similar symptoms.

Noflin ultimately went missing and his burned body was found in New Orleans less than a year after Skipper died.

A lawsuit filed by Noflin's insurance company reveals he signed off on a change to his life insurance policy less than a year before his death. The documents named Meshell Hale as the sole beneficiary of his $750,000 policy in July 2015. He was found dead in March of 2016.

The suit filed by State Farm asks that a court take over the disbursement of Noflin's funds.

Hale, authorities said, listed a Baton Rouge address.

WBRZ is working additional details to this bizarre story. Check back for updates.

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Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz

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