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, whom the man knew as “Nala,” put a benzodiazepine in his whiskey after the two argued about a vehicle he had purchased for her. The man was later hospitalized with benzodiazepine poisoning and other medical complications. Sheriff Grady Judd described Adams as a potential “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, multiple drug offenses, prostitution and resisting an officer without violence.

Samantha Adams “Black Widow” Case

Sheriff Grady Judd Called Adams A “Black Widow.” Judd used the description while discussing the investigation and warning that detectives believe other men may have had similar encounters with Adams. [Polk County Sheriff] [CBS12]

Judd Said Investigators Believe Adams Was Motivated By Money. The sheriff accused her of attempting to poison and extort the man and said detectives were looking for anyone else who may have been targeted. [Daily Ridge] [FOX News]

Dating App Relationship

The Victim Met Adams Through A Dating App. Polk County detectives said the 69-year-old man had been seeing Adams for approximately two to three months. [Polk County Sheriff] [FOX News]

The Man Knew Adams As “Nala.” Investigators later determined that the woman he knew by that name was Samantha Adams. [Polk County Sheriff]

Authorities Described The Relationship As Involving Paid Sex. Sheriff Judd said the two had met online for what he characterized as a relationship involving sex in exchange for money. [FOX News]

Argument Over A Vehicle

The Victim Had Purchased A Vehicle For Adams. According to investigators, the two argued on August 17 after the man said he wanted the vehicle back because he could no longer afford it. [FOX News]

Adams Allegedly Went Into The Kitchen Carrying Her Purse. The arrest affidavit says she returned with two glasses containing what the victim believed was whiskey. [Polk County Sheriff]

Detectives Allege Adams Put A Benzodiazepine In His Drink. The sheriff’s office said investigators concluded she intentionally mixed the drug into the man’s beverage. [Polk County Sheriff]

Alleged $1,000 Demand

The Victim Said He And Adams Became Intimate After Drinking. According to the arrest affidavit, the two engaged in physical affection after he consumed the whiskey. [FOX News]

Adams Allegedly Demanded $1,000 To Continue The Sexual Encounter. Investigators say she stopped and told the man he would have to pay her before they continued. [Polk County Sheriff] [FOX News]

The Victim Refused And Adams Left. She allegedly departed the residence after he declined to pay. [Polk County Sheriff]

Victim Becomes Ill While Driving

The Man Began Feeling Ill After Adams Left. Court records say he later drove to pick up his granddaughter from a Wawa near a movie theater. [FOX News]

His Condition Worsened While He Was Driving. He later recalled his granddaughter pulling him from the driver’s seat and moving him into the back seat of the vehicle. [FOX News]

His Granddaughter Eventually Called 911. She drove him home, but when he remained unconscious later that evening she contacted emergency services. [FOX News]

Benzodiazepine Poisoning

The Victim Was Hospitalized After Losing Consciousness. Medical personnel initially administered Narcan because of concern that he might have suffered an opioid overdose. [FOX News]

Testing Showed Benzodiazepine Poisoning. Investigators said the man was not prescribed benzodiazepines and denied knowingly taking them. [Polk County Sheriff] [FOX News]

Medical Records Also Documented Toxic Metabolic Encephalopathy. Later reporting says the man was diagnosed with benzodiazepine poisoning along with metabolic encephalopathy, dehydration and acute kidney injury. [FOX News]

Earlier Suspected Poisonings

The Victim Reported At Least Three Earlier Suspicious Incidents. He told detectives that he had repeatedly become unusually impaired after consuming small amounts of alcohol while with Adams at her Orlando residence. [Polk County Sheriff]

He Said He Became Unsteady And Fell During One Encounter. The man said the reaction occurred despite drinking only a small amount of alcohol. [Daily Ridge]

He Reported Passing Out In His Vehicle After Another Visit. Investigators cited that incident as another reason they suspected he may have been drugged previously. [Daily Ridge]

The Man Also Reported Becoming Groggy Before A Vehicle Collision. On August 15, he allegedly left Adams’ residence impaired and backed his truck into an Osceola County sheriff’s vehicle. [Daily Ridge] [FOX News]

Home Security System

Investigators Say The Victim’s Home Security System Was Tampered With. The man told detectives he had previously seen Adams near the area where the security equipment was located. [Polk County Sheriff]

Adams Faces A Tampering-With-Evidence Charge. Authorities included that offense among the charges filed 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. Detectives moved in after Adams arrived and took her into custody. [Polk County Sheriff]

Drugs Found During Arrest

Deputies Say They Found Prescription Drugs Belonging To Another Person. Investigators reported finding a prescription bottle containing several controlled and prescription medications. [FOX News]

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

Investigators Also Reported Finding Alprazolam. Authorities said the medications included part of a Xanax tablet, along with sertraline and part of an Adderall pill. [FOX News]

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]

She Also Faces A Felony Tampering-With-Evidence Charge. Investigators tied that allegation to interference with the home security system. [Polk County Sheriff]

Adams Faces Multiple Drug Charges. Those include possession allegations involving oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam, possession of a prescription drug without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. [Daily Ridge]

Adams Is Charged With Offering To Commit Prostitution. Investigators filed the count based on the allegation that she demanded $1,000 during 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]

Earlier Lake County Investigation

Newer Reporting Says Adams Had Previously Surfaced In A Lake County Investigation. Court records cited by FOX News reportedly described a case involving a woman using the name “Nala” who was approaching an elderly man with the intent of obtaining money and goods from him. [FOX News]

That Reporting Does Not Establish A Separate Attempted-Murder Charge Or Conviction. The Lake County information is a prior investigative lead cited in court records, not proof that Adams committed another poisoning.

Possible Additional Victims

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

Authorities Have Asked Potential Victims To Contact The Sheriff’s Office. Detectives continue to seek information from anyone who believes they had a similar encounter with Adams. [Polk County Sheriff]

Jail And Case Status

Adams Remained In Custody Without Bond In The Most Recent Public Reporting. Polk County jail records cited in reporting showed her still incarcerated without bond as of September 2. [FOX News]

No New Victim Has Resulted In A Publicly Announced Additional Charge As Of September 7, 2026. Detectives continue to investigate whether other people were targeted.

The Charges Have Not Been Proven In Court. Adams remains accused while the Polk County criminal case proceeds.