Pretrial motions begin for man accused of poisoning wife with eye drops

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Pretrial motions are underway in Gaston County in the trial of a man accused of trying to poison his wife with eye drops, burning a helicopter and staging a kidnapping.

Joshua Hunsucker is accused of poisoning his wife, Stacy, with a lethal dose of eye drops and then immediately having her body cremated, allegedly to hide evidence that prosecutors said was found in blood taken before her death.

Hunsucker was later charged with faking his own kidnapping, accusing his wife’s father of zip-tying him and poisoning his own daughter.

Channel 9 was in the courtroom in May when Hunsucker’s attorney tried to have the case moved out of Gaston County. A judge did not approve the request.

>>Channel 9’s Ken Lemon is in court Monday and will have the latest on Eyewitness News starting at 5 p.m.

Joshua Hunsucker case timeline

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September 2018 Stacy Hunsucker dies

Authorities later alleged Joshua Hunsucker poisoned his wife with tetrahydrozoline, a chemical found in eye drops. Investigators said he opposed an autopsy and had her cremated. A biological sample preserved through organ donation was later tested.

After September 2018 Life insurance becomes part of the case

Joshua Hunsucker collected $250,000 in life-insurance proceeds. Stacy Hunsucker’s family later alleged in a wrongful-death lawsuit that the money was used for expensive trips, a boat and other purchases.

November 2019 Medical helicopter makes emergency landing

Joshua Hunsucker was working as a paramedic aboard an Atrium Health medical helicopter when a piece of medical equipment was intentionally set on fire. The aircraft made an emergency landing in east Charlotte.

December 2019 First-degree murder charge filed

More than a year after Stacy Hunsucker’s death, authorities charged Joshua Hunsucker with first-degree murder. Reporting at the time also listed insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense. Bail was set at $1.5 million, and he bonded out on Christmas Eve.

January 2020 Family challenges use of insurance money

• Stacy Hunsucker’s family pursued the insurance proceeds. A judge warned Joshua Hunsucker against concealing or moving property allegedly purchased with the money.
• Police also publicly confirmed the helicopter fire was being investigated as arson, though no charge had yet been filed in that case.

March 2021 Arson charge filed in helicopter case

Joshua Hunsucker was arrested in Mecklenburg County and charged with setting a fire aboard the medical helicopter while it was in flight.

February 2023 Hunsucker reports alleged kidnapping

Joshua Hunsucker told police he was kidnapped near Mount Holly, restrained with zip ties and injected with an unknown substance. At the time of WSOC-TV’s report, police were investigating the account.

2023 Prosecutors allege daughter was poisoned

In court filings disclosed the following year, prosecutors alleged Joshua Hunsucker put the same substance associated with his wife’s death into his 11-year-old daughter’s drink, causing low blood pressure, a low heart rate and constricted blood vessels.

December 2023 to February 2024 Prosecutors outline alleged intimidation

Prosecutors alleged Joshua Hunsucker sent a package to his late wife’s parents demanding that they drop the case, drove by their home, followed her father and falsely accused him of assault and kidnapping.

August 6, 2024 New indictment and rearrest

A grand jury indicted Joshua Hunsucker on witness-intimidation and obstruction-of-justice charges. He was rearrested, and prosecutors asked the court to revoke his bond in the murder case.

August 9, 2024 Judge orders Hunsucker held

A judge ordered Joshua Hunsucker held without bond on the new charges while the defense reviewed the allegations and the court deferred consideration of his murder-case bond.

November 4, 2024 Original murder bond revoked

A judge revoked Joshua Hunsucker’s bond in the murder case and set a $25,000 bond on a newer charge. Prosecutors said the additional developments could delay a previously anticipated March trial until the following fall.

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