Charlotte, North Carolina, October 15, 2025
News Summary
Cheryl Harris Gates, a pediatric occupational therapist, has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to drug her husband’s energy drink. Along with attempted murder, Gates faces charges of contaminating food or drink, stalking, and damage to property. The arrest follows incidents of research into drug combinations and prior stalking accusations. She remains in custody with a court appearance scheduled soon, while the community responds in shock over the allegations against someone in a trusted profession.
Charlotte, North Carolina – Cheryl Harris Gates, a 43-year-old pediatric occupational therapist, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly attempting to drug her husband’s energy drink using prescription medications. The charges stem from an incident where Gates is accused of contaminating her husband’s Celsius energy drink with the intention of causing a blackout or incapacitation.
In addition to the attempted murder charge, Gates faces several other serious allegations, including contaminating food or drink to render someone mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, stalking, and damage to property. Court documents indicate that Gates conducted research using an AI platform to explore lethal or incapacitating drug combinations. She reportedly purchased supplies to implement her alleged plan, further escalating the severity of the accusations against her.
The situation escalated with allegations of stalking and property damage, including an incident where Gates reportedly broke her husband’s window and placed a tracking device on his vehicle. Police first arrested Gates on October 7, 2025, on charges of stalking and damage to property; she was subsequently released following that arrest. However, on October 10, she was taken into custody again on the more serious charges of attempted murder and food/drink contamination.
As of now, a magistrate has denied her bond, and Gates remains in custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail. She is scheduled to make an appearance in court on October 30, 2025, where further legal proceedings regarding these allegations will take place.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district has stated that the allegations against Gates do not involve any students, teachers, or faculty members and occurred off school property. The district described Gates as a therapist who worked with students facing challenges related to sensory processing, handwriting difficulties, and executive functioning disorders. Although a webpage for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools listing her role has since been removed, the community is still in shock over the developments.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the matter, urging anyone with information regarding the case to contact Detective Bumgarner at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
FAQ
What charges has Cheryl Harris Gates faced?
Cheryl Harris Gates has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to drug her husband’s energy drink with prescription medications. She has also been charged with contaminating food or drink to render someone mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, stalking, and damage to property.
What incident led to her arrest?
Gates allegedly put prescription medicines in her husband’s Celsius energy drink with the intention of causing a blackout or incapacitation.
When was she arrested?
Gates was first arrested on charges of stalking and damage to property on October 7, 2025, and was arrested again on October 10 on attempted murder and food/drink contamination charges.
What is her connection to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools?
Gates was a pediatric occupational therapist who worked with students facing sensory processing challenges, handwriting difficulties, and executive functioning disorders; however, the allegations did not involve any students, teachers, or faculty members and occurred off school property.
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Charges | Attempted murder, contaminating food or drink, stalking, damage to property |
| Initial Arrest | October 7, 2025 – stalking and damage to property |
| Second Arrest | October 10, 2025 – attempted murder and food/drink contamination |
| Court Date | Scheduled for October 30, 2025 |
| Current Status | In custody at Mecklenburg County Jail, bond denied |
| Profession | Pediatric occupational therapist |
| Community Impact | Allegations do not involve students, teachers, or faculty members |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
School Therapist Charged with Attempted Murder
Charlotte School Employee Charged with Attempted Murder
School Therapist Charged with Attempted Murder in Charlotte
Charlotte Occupational Therapist Charged with Attempted Murder
Pediatric Occupational Therapist Charged with Attempted Murder
Charlotte School Employee Charged with Attempted Murder
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Employee Arrested on Serious Charges
Additional Resources
- CBS News
- WBTV
- Fox34
- People
- Wikipedia: Attempted Murder
- Google Search: Cheryl Harris Gates
- Google Scholar: Attempted Murder Domestic Violence
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Attempted Murder
- Google News: Cheryl Harris Gates
Author: HERE Charlotte
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