Jessica Meis allegedly spent years slowly poisoning her ex-husband with Visine eye drops, telling investigators she wanted him to get sick so badly that he would need her to take care of him, according to a criminal complaint filed in Portage County Circuit Court.
The 37-year-old Wisconsin woman has been charged with aggravated battery with a domestic violence modifier and two counts of placing foreign objects in edibles. She remains held at the Portage County Jail on $100,000 bond after Stevens Point police arrested her Tuesday.
Background
Meis and her ex-husband divorced in June 2025 but continued living together in their Stevens Point home until she moved to Plover, Wisconsin. The couple shares custody of three children, which meant Meis still had regular access to the family home even after separating.
The ex-husband told police he began experiencing mysterious health problems starting in 2021—persistent exhaustion, dizziness, extended sleeping periods, and severe headaches. His symptoms intensified around the time the divorce was finalized.
According to the complaint, the ex-husband was hospitalized four times between July and September 2025, shortly after Meis moved into her own home. Despite living separately, Meis frequently visited his residence because of their shared parenting arrangement.
The Investigation
In January 2026, Meis told her ex-husband she needed to stay at his house because her heat was broken. During that visit, he experienced three separate "episodes" of illness. His health problems flared up again in May and continued through mid-July, with episodes of low blood pressure increasing in frequency.
On July 14, after growing suspicious, the ex-husband installed a camera in his kitchen. Police said footage from July 18 showed Meis removing a small container from her pocket, unscrewing it on the kitchen island, and emptying its contents into a black water bottle—all while deliberately positioning herself below counter height to avoid detection by two of her children standing nearby.
Video from July 16 captured Meis taking a bottle of eye drops from her purse and emptying what investigators believe was Visine solution into one of her ex-husband's Propel water bottles. That contaminated bottle was later consumed by another household member who turned it over as evidence.
Police also obtained an energy drink can that the ex-husband's mother had saved after he suspected Meis may have tampered with it in July 2025. Officers executed a search warrant at Meis' home on Tuesday and interviewed her after reading her Miranda rights.
The Charges
Meis is charged with one count of aggravated battery as a domestic violence offense and two counts of placing foreign objects in edibles. During questioning, she initially claimed she was adding "saline solution or salt" to his water as a blood pressure remedy before eventually admitting to using Visine eye drops.
When confronted with the video evidence, Meis allegedly acknowledged putting Visine in her ex-husband's Monster energy drinks, Propel water bottles, Bubbler drinks, and likely his old fashioned mix. She also admitted to attempting to contaminate his CPAP machine, though she told police "she didn't think it worked."
She initially said she only poisoned him a couple of times before later admitting she had done it "many times," according to the complaint.
When asked whether she was concerned about her children accidentally consuming the contaminated drinks, Meis reportedly said "they don't drink these things." Authorities noted she displayed no remorse during the interview.
Key Takeaways
- Jessica Meis, 37, allegedly poisoned her ex-husband with Visine eye drops over an extended period beginning in 2021
- She admitted to contaminating his Monster energy drinks, Propel water, Bubbler drinks, and attempting to poison his CPAP machine
- The ex-husband was hospitalized four times between July and September 2025 and experienced ongoing health issues including low blood pressure episodes
- Video surveillance captured Meis allegedly tampering with her ex-husband's water bottles on two separate occasions in mid-July
- Meis told investigators she wanted him sick so "he would let her take care of him" and "he would need her"
What's Next
Meis is due back in Portage County Circuit Court on July 27 for a preliminary hearing. She will remain in custody at the Portage County Jail as the case proceeds. Police continue to investigate the full scope of the alleged poisoning campaign.