A Santa Clarita Valley couple discovered their roommate had been systematically poisoning their food with insect repellent after hidden camera footage captured him spraying their groceries while wearing a gas mask, leading to serious health consequences, including liver damage.

Hidden Camera Reveals Disturbing Pattern

David and Billy Sonhopper installed a hidden camera in their shared kitchen after experiencing mysterious illnesses that sent them to the hospital. The footage revealed their roommate, Timothy Bradbury, wearing a gas mask while spraying insect repellent on their food, including fresh groceries and a bowl of fruit. Medical tests confirmed the couple had been poisoned, with David suffering liver damage and Billy experiencing worsening of existing health conditions.

The couple reviewed additional security footage from previous months and discovered Bradbury had been contaminating their food repeatedly. The three roommates maintained separate living spaces but shared a common kitchen area. Billy Sonhopper explained that their living arrangement allowed each person privacy while utilizing shared facilities, which Bradbury allegedly exploited to access their food supplies.

Pattern of Criminal Behavior Emerges

Beyond the poisoning incidents, the couple reported Bradbury engaged in additional criminal activities during their time living together. They accused him of breaking into their private room, destroying their clothing, and stealing prescription medications, identification documents, and other personal property. David Sonhopper described Bradbury as mentally unstable, expressing concern about sharing a residence with someone capable of such calculated harm.

Law Enforcement Response Raises Questions

When Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the home, Bradbury barricaded himself inside, triggering an hours-long standoff before officers successfully persuaded him to surrender peacefully. Despite evidence of poisoning that caused documented medical harm, authorities charged Bradbury with only a misdemeanor offense and released him from custody. The Sonhoppers, fearing for their safety, abandoned their home and relocated to an Airbnb rental while determining their next steps. The case highlights concerns about adequate protection for victims of domestic poisoning and whether misdemeanor charges appropriately reflect the severity of intentionally contaminating someone’s food with toxic substances.