LIMA, O. - A Lima doctor accused of drugging his former girlfriend to cause a miscarriage was indicted yesterday on 16 counts, including four counts of attempted aggravated murder.
Dr. Maynard Muntzing's wife also was indicted by a Montgomery County Common Pleas Court grand jury in the case.
Prosecutors said Tammy Muntzing, 37, filled her husband's prescription for Cytotec, a contraction-causing drug Mr. Muntzing slipped into his girlfriend's drink four times.
“She was apparently the one who went in and picked up the medication from the pharmacy,” said Jim Knight, an assistant county prosecutor.
Dr. Muntzing, 34, of Lima, faces four counts each of attempted aggravated murder, attempted felonious assault, and contaminating a substance for human consumption. He was indicted on two counts each of illegal possession of drug documents and deception to obtain dangerous drugs. If convicted of all the counts, he could be sentenced to 104 years in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges today.
Mrs. Muntzing was indicted on one count each of illegal possession of drug documents and deception to obtain dangerous drugs. If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison.
A warrant was issued for Mrs. Muntzing's arrest yesterday, Mr. Knight said. Her attorney, Larry Denny, of Dayton, told prosecutors Mrs. Muntzing would turn herself in to authorities.
Dr. Muntzing, who was being held in the Montgomery County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond, was charged with trying to kill the fetus of Michelle Baker, 33, of Huber Heights, a Dayton suburb.
He was arrested Aug. 14 at Ms. Baker's home shortly after Huber Heights police, watching through a video camera, said they saw him pour a contraction-causing drug into her soft drink.
Ms. Baker is still carrying the child, Mr. Knight said yesterday. But he said ongoing tests haven't determined what impact the drug may have had on the fetus.
Ms. Baker, who is 17 weeks pregnant, told police she became suspicious when she fell ill several times after visiting Dr. Muntzing. Police said Ms. Baker and Dr. Muntzing began dating in April and became engaged in May.
At the same time, Dr. Muntzing was seeing another woman, whom he married in July. Ms. Baker, who declined to comment yesterday, told police she refused Dr. Muntzing's request to get an abortion.
Dr. Muntzing had opened an ear, nose, and throat practice Aug. 1. St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima revoked Dr. Muntzing's temporary staff privileges two days after his arrest.
First Published August 31, 2000, 4:00 a.m.