A Charlotte-area school therapist is facing a string of serious charges — including attempted murder and stalking — after police say she tried to poison her estranged husband and secretly tracked his movements for weeks.

She Not Only Stalked Her Ex, But She Poisoned Him Too

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Kimberly Gates, a pediatric therapist employed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district. Detectives say the case began as a domestic dispute but quickly escalated into something more sinister. Gates is accused of contaminating food or drink “to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless,” though investigators have not said what substance she allegedly used. Her arrest warrant outlines a disturbing pattern of behavior toward her former spouse — including placing a tracking device on his car.

At Least All Of This Was Down Outside Of School

On Oct. 10, detectives from the department’s Domestic Violence Unit arrested Gates and booked her into the Mecklenburg County Jail. She now faces four charges: attempted murder, contaminating food or drink, stalking, and property damage — the last tied to what police described as a broken window belonging to her ex. “This incident occurred off school property and did not involve any student, teacher, or facility,” police emphasized in a statement.

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It’s unclear whether Gates remains employed by the school district. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed her employment but did not provide further comment, citing the ongoing investigation. “It’s definitely surprising that somebody in that capacity, who is there to help others, would do something like that,” said parent Quemella Holland, whose child attends a CMS school. “You don’t expect it from someone who works with kids.”

No One Knows Why She Did This

Court records show Gates was first arrested on Oct. 8 for stalking and property damage, released shortly thereafter, and then taken back into custody two days later when detectives secured additional evidence supporting the attempted murder charge. She remained in jail as of Sunday without a listed attorney. Investigators have not disclosed a motive or said whether her alleged attempt to poison her ex caused any injuries. Police sources told WSOC that the case began after the victim reported suspicious behavior — including being followed and finding the tracking device on his car — prompting a deeper investigation.