Who Is Samantha Adams? Florida “Black Widow” Attempted Murder Case

Samantha Adams is a 39-year-old Orlando woman accused of intentionally poisoning a 69-year-old Haines City man she met through a dating app. Polk County detectives say Adams, who the victim knew as “Nala,” put a benzodiazepine in his whiskey and may have poisoned him on at least three earlier occasions. Sheriff Grady Judd publicly described Adams as a “black widow” and said investigators believe money was her motive. Adams was arrested on August 27, 2026, and faces charges including second-degree attempted murder, tampering with evidence, drug possession and offering to commit prostitution.

Samantha Adams “Black Widow” Case

Sheriff Grady Judd Called Adams A “Black Widow.” During a September 1 update, Judd used the term while warning that detectives believe there may be additional men who had similar encounters with Adams. He said investigators want anyone who believes they may have been victimized by her to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. [CBS12] [Daily Ridge]

Judd Said Investigators Believe Adams Was Motivated By Money. The sheriff said Adams was willing to go to extreme lengths to obtain money and characterized the alleged poisoning as an attempted killing rather than an accidental overdose. [Daily Ridge] [ClickOrlando]

Dating App Connection

The Victim Met Adams Through A Dating App. Polk County detectives said the 69-year-old Haines City man initially knew her only by the name “Nala.” [Polk County Sheriff]

Detectives Later Identified “Nala” As Samantha Adams. Investigators used additional records and prior law-enforcement information to determine her identity. [Polk County Sheriff] [Hoodline]

Argument Over A Vehicle

The Victim Said He Had Purchased A Vehicle For Adams. According to the arrest affidavit, the two argued about the vehicle shortly before the alleged poisoning. [Polk County Sheriff]

Police Say Adams Went Into The Kitchen Carrying Her Purse. The victim told detectives that after the argument she went into the kitchen and later returned carrying two glasses of whiskey. [Polk County Sheriff]

Investigators Allege Adams Put A Benzodiazepine In His Drink. The sheriff’s office said the arrest affidavit accuses Adams of intentionally mixing the drug into the victim’s whiskey. [Polk County Sheriff]

Alleged $1,000 Demand For Sex

The Victim Said He And Adams Became Intimate After Drinking. According to deputies, the encounter became sexual after he drank the whiskey. [Polk County Sheriff]

Adams Allegedly Stopped And Demanded $1,000. The victim told investigators that Adams said he would need to pay her $1,000 if he wanted the sexual encounter to continue. [Polk County Sheriff]

The Victim Refused And Adams Left. Deputies said she departed from the Haines City residence after he declined to pay. [Polk County Sheriff]

Victim Suffers Benzodiazepine Overdose

The Victim Later Passed Out. After Adams left, the man lost consciousness and was transported to a hospital on August 17. [Polk County Sheriff]

Medical Staff Determined He Had Suffered A Benzodiazepine Overdose. The victim told investigators he did not take benzodiazepines and did not have a prescription for them. [Polk County Sheriff]

Updated Reporting Says He Was Treated With Narcan. Medical records described in later coverage reportedly documented benzodiazepine poisoning along with acute toxic metabolic encephalopathy, dehydration and acute kidney injury. [Hoodline]

Three Earlier Suspected Poisonings

The Victim Told Detectives There Had Been At Least Three Earlier Suspicious Incidents. Those episodes allegedly occurred while he was visiting Adams at her residence in Orange County during August. [Polk County Sheriff]

The Man Said He Became Unsteady After One Drink On One Occasion. He reported falling after consuming only a small amount of alcohol. [Daily Ridge]

He Said He Passed Out In His Vehicle After Another Visit. Investigators cited that episode as another possible poisoning. [Daily Ridge]

The Victim Also Reported Becoming Groggy Before A Vehicle Crash. On August 15, he allegedly left Adams’ residence feeling impaired and backed his truck into an Osceola County deputy’s patrol vehicle. [Daily Ridge]

Home Security System Allegedly Tampered With

Detectives Say Someone Tampered With The Victim’s Home Security System. The victim told investigators that he had seen Adams in the area of the house where the equipment was located. [Polk County Sheriff]

The Allegation Led To A Tampering-With-Evidence Charge. Authorities included that offense among the charges filed against Adams following her arrest. [Polk County Sheriff]

Samantha Adams Arrest

Detectives Arrested Adams On August 27, 2026. Investigators arranged for her to meet the alleged victim at the Posner Park shopping center in Davenport. [Polk County Sheriff]

Deputies Boxed In Her Vehicle In The Parking Lot. The sheriff’s office said detectives moved quickly after Adams arrived and took her into custody. [Polk County Sheriff]

Prescription Drugs Found During Arrest

Deputies Say They Found Multiple Prescription Drugs In Adams’ Possession. Investigators reported finding a prescription bottle issued to another person containing several controlled and prescription medications. [Daily Ridge]

The Drugs Allegedly Included Hydrocodone And Oxycodone. Deputies reported finding 19 hydrocodone/acetaminophen pills and approximately two-and-a-half oxycodone hydrochloride pills. [Daily Ridge]

Investigators Also Reported Finding Alprazolam. Alprazolam, commonly sold under the brand name Xanax, is a benzodiazepine. Authorities also listed sertraline and part of an Adderall pill among the drugs recovered. [Daily Ridge]

Charges Against Samantha Adams

Adams Is Charged With Second-Degree Attempted Murder. The attempted-murder count is the most serious charge arising from the alleged poisoning. [Polk County Sheriff] [CBS12]

Adams Also Faces A Felony Tampering-With-Evidence Charge. Investigators tied that count to the alleged interference with the victim’s security system. [Polk County Sheriff]

She Faces Multiple Drug Possession Charges. Those include possession of oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam, along with possession of a prescription drug without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. [Daily Ridge]

Adams Is Also Charged With Offering To Commit Prostitution. Investigators filed that count based on the allegation that she demanded $1,000 to continue the sexual encounter. [Polk County Sheriff]

A Resisting-Without-Violence Charge Was Also Filed. The sheriff’s office included that misdemeanor among the offenses associated with her arrest. [Daily Ridge]

Possible Additional Victims

Polk County Detectives Believe There Could Be Other Victims. Sheriff Judd said investigators are concerned Adams may have used similar tactics with other men. [CBS12] [ClickOrlando]

The Investigation Has Connections To Several Central Florida Counties. The allegations and investigative leads involve Polk, Orange, Osceola and Lake counties. [Hoodline]

Authorities Are Asking Anyone Who Had Similar Encounters With Adams To Come Forward. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has publicly requested information from potential additional victims. [Daily Ridge]