A sinister plot has unfolded in the courts of Oxford, with a pair accused of poisoning unsuspecting men in two counties. Adina Mihai, 31, and Madalin Dumitru, 30, have both pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Oxford Crown Court, in connection with the deaths of Malcolm King, 80, from Gloucestershire, and Gary Mouat, 37, from Oxfordshire.
The court heard that Mihai, posing as a sex worker, would arrange to meet victims at their homes after taking financial deposits. She would then secretly administer GBL (gamma-butyrolactone), which converts into the powerful sedative GHB within the body, incapacitating the men and allowing her and Dumitru to steal from them.
Malcolm King was found dead at his home near Cirencester on 21 August 2024. Initially, his death was not deemed suspicious due to a pre-existing health condition; however, further toxicology tests revealed he had been poisoned with GBL. Similarly, Gary Mouat was discovered dead at his Banbury property on 13 July last year, with a post-mortem examination confirming he had been poisoned with GBL added to an alcoholic drink.
In addition to the two fatal incidents, Mihai and Dumitru also pleaded guilty to administering poison to two other men in the south of England who survived the attacks. Due to legal reasons, these victims cannot be named. The collaborative efforts of detectives from Thames Valley and Gloucestershire Police major crime units were instrumental in linking the cases and bringing the pair to justice.
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey highlighted how the pair 'targeted men seeking sexual services and covertly drugged them to render them unconscious before stealing'. He added that their 'callous and calculated actions had fatal consequences' for Mr King. Detective Inspector Michael Roddy expressed satisfaction at providing answers for Gary Mouat's family, thanking them for their support during the investigation.
Mihai and Dumitru appeared via video link at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, where they entered their guilty pleas. They have been remanded in custody and are expected to receive significant prison sentences when they return for sentencing at a later date, as indicated by Mrs Justice Brunner.