Cheryl Harris Gates: North Carolina Therapist Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Poison Her Ex-Husband

A North Carolina school therapist has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after police say she tried to poison her estranged husband, while secretly tracking his every move.

On Friday, October 10, 2025, detectives from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit arrested 43-year-old Cheryl Harris Gates, a school therapist employed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS).

According to the CMPD press release, Gates allegedly contaminated food and drink belonging to her estranged husband “to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless.” 

Authorities have not released what chemical was used in the alleged poisoning attempt.

Following her arrest, Gates was charged with attempted murder, contaminating food or drink, stalking, and property damage. 

Police confirmed the case is being handled as a domestic violence investigation and emphasized that the incident “occurred off school property and did not involve any student, teacher, or facility.”

According to the official report, viewed by Law&Crime, criminal investigators also allege that Gates stalked her estranged husband by attaching a tracking device to his vehicle and repeatedly harassing him.

“The defendant unlawfully and willfully did without legal purpose, on more than one occasion, harass [the victim] by placing a tracking device on his vehicle,” stated the warrant, as per Law&Crime. 

The document further notes that Gates “knew and should have known that her actions would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of their immediate family.”

These actions led police to issue an additional charge of stalking, alongside property damage after Gates allegedly broke a window belonging to her ex-husband.

The news of Gates’ arrest has come as a surprise to members of theCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools community, where she worked as a pediatric therapist

“It’s definitely surprising that somebody in that capacity, who is there to help others, would do something like that,” said Quemella Holland, a CMS parent, in an interview with WSOC. “You just don’t expect it,” she added.

The CMPD stated that the case remains active and ongoing, and anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Domestic Violence Unit at 704-336-2379.

As of Sunday, October 12, 2025, Gates remained in custody at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

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