A Dulzura man who poisoned his wife—a former Campo Elementary School teacher—was sentenced March 14 to three consecutive terms of life in state prison.
Race Remington Uto, 28, won’t be eligible for parole until after he finishes a minimum of 21 years, said Deputy District Attorney Paul Reizen.
Uto pleaded guilty to three counts of pre-meditated attempted murder of his wife, Brigida McInvale, now 29, who almost died.
McInvale told El Cajon Superior Court Judge Robert Amador about the shock of learning her husband had put thallium in her food at least three times.
“I wanted to believe I knew the man I married three years before,” said McInvale.
She said she had “months of unexplained symptoms” that included numbness in her arms and legs, weight loss, fatigue, vomiting, dizziness, and hair loss in 2017.
“It was painful to walk,” she said.
McInvale spent the first two weeks in the hospital but the ailment was misdiagnosed as doctors had not seen “cases of thallium (poisoning) at this level.”
McInvale said her husband took care of her and prepared her food—all the while knowing he was the cause. He poisoned her two more times when the first dose didn’t kill her, said Reizen.
“How selfish, how cruel, because you were having an affair and wanted to get rid of your wife,” said Amador to Uto sternly.
“How cold, how callous, how vicious, and frankly how inhumane that was,” Amador said.
Thallium was used as a rat poison but was banned from sale in the United States 40 years ago. Uto purchased it over the internet three times, said Reizen.
The prosecutor said investigators found Uto had researched thallium online on his phone. Reizen quoted a source that said “it kills you slowly” and gives the poisoner control over how slowly the victim dies.
“How did you decide the only way to dissolve a marriage is by killing your wife?” asked McInvale to her former husband, who was handcuffed and dressed in jail clothes.
He said nothing in court.
“I cared for you, loved you,” said McInvale, adding that she recalled him telling her that her lack of cooking skills was the reason she was sick.
“I am constantly vigilant of my surroundings,” said McInvale, describing how the poisoning affected her. She added that she “struggles with anger as a single parent.”
She said she recalled Uto discouraging her from giving a portion of her breakfast to their 2-year-old son, saying he could choke on it, which she found as an odd thing to say.
“How could you, a father, do this to the mother of your son?” asked McInvale.
The judge also asked Uto “how could you actually do something where you could jeopardize the life your son as well?”
Uto sat silently.
His attorney, Daniel Cohen, said his client pleaded guilty “because it was the right thing to do” and he did not want to put his ex-wife through a trial.
The case settled before having a preliminary hearing.
“He did accept responsibility at an early stage,” said Cohen.
Uto was injured while in the Navy and he used an electronic implant device to ease his pain, his attorney said. Cohen said Uto believed his pain “clouded his judgement.”
Cohen said Uto has been staying in the jail’s medical housing unit. Amador gave him credit for 403 days spent in jail and fined him $10,364.
Amador also ordered Uto to pay $6,735 in restitution.
People who get life sentences with parole possibilities must serve at least seven years before they are eligible for parole. Since he received three life terms, Uto will have to serve a minimum of 21 years before he can be paroled, said Reizen.
“This person should never be out of prison,” said Reizen.
The victim’s sister, Olga McInvale, said she often felt frustrated because there were no answers to her medical condition before it was determined she had been poisoned.
Olga McInvale said it was like her sister was affected by “an invisible attacker.” Thalium is odorless, tasteless, and almost undetectable.
Olga McInvale said “we probably never will know the reason why” Uto decided to poison his wife.
