Man allegedly drugged, smothered his wife at dementia care facility

GILBERT, Ariz. (TCN) — A 46-year-old man is in custody after allegedly killing his wife at an assisted care facility where she was being treated for advanced dementia.

According to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, on June 11, staff at Eternal Springs found Danielle Crosbie-Davidson deceased in her room and contacted Gilbert Police. Per court records reviewed by KTVK/KPHO-TV, there were “suspicious marks” on Crosbie-Davidson’s body, and her health had been deteriorating since her husband, Justin Davidson, arrived from California to visit and stay with her.

Staff allegedly told officials that Davidson mentioned he “did not want them to feed her.”

Employees at Eternal Springs went to check on Crosbie-Davidson and reportedly noticed her room had been locked multiple times, and they told her husband to stop locking the door.

During an interview, Davidson allegedly admitted that he killed his wife, saying he crushed around 50 to 60 oxycodone pills, a narcotic, and fed them to her in the days leading to her death. Davidson reportedly said the painkillers were previously prescribed to his wife, and that’s why he purchased them. According to court documents reviewed by KTVK/KPHO, Crosbie-Davidson didn’t die right after consuming the pills.

Davidson allegedly bought sleeping medicine on June 10 and mixed them into a blue Eegee slushie for Crosbie-Davidson hours before she died. Medical staff reportedly noticed the victim’s tongue was blue at the time of her death.

Davidson also allegedly smothered his wife with a pillow until she stopped breathing.

Mitchell announced June 30 that Davidson was indicted on one count of first-degree murder. He remains held on a $1 million bond and is tentatively scheduled to go on trial in February 2026.

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