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282. The Nicotine Poisoner - Murder With My Husband | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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282. The Nicotine Poisoner

Murder With My Husband

Mon Aug 18 2025

Summary

Murder With My Husband — Episode 282: The Nicotine Poisoner

Podcast by OH NO MEDIA
Air date: August 18, 2025
Hosts: Peyton Moreland (true crime lover), Garrett Moreland (her slightly reluctant husband)

Overview of the Episode

This episode investigates the chilling case of Linda Kincaid, a vibrant power plant worker in San Clemente, California, who fell ill under mysterious circumstances in the early 1990s and ultimately died. The story explores how her much-younger husband, Paul Curry – a Jeopardy! contestant with a genius reputation – became the prime suspect in what would eventually be exposed as a calculated, slow-motion murder employing nicotine as the fatal weapon. Peyton and Garrett discuss not only the criminal investigation but also the red flags, the psychology of victims, and the forensic hurdles that made this case notorious.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Linda Kincaid: Her Life and Relationships

Linda was a successful manager at a local power plant, known for her style, ambition, and sociability (05:35).
She met Paul Curry, 13 years her junior and a reputedly brilliant nuclear engineer (and Jeopardy! veteran), whom she married after a whirlwind romance (08:49–12:57).
Their marriage, while outwardly affectionate, was curiously non-intimate: “Linda told her friends that Paul was never even interested in consummating their marriage… She liked being intellectually challenged by Paul.” (13:02)

2. Early Signs: Mysterious Sickness and Suspicion

Linda suffered a sudden illness after the couple took a cruise in June 1993, initially attributed to hantavirus, which didn’t fit her symptoms (13:54–15:22).
Despite repeated hospitalizations, doctors remained perplexed by her recurring, near-fatal symptoms.
Friends and hospital staff grew suspicious, especially as Paul was the sole caregiver and Linda’s condition worsened primarily when at home (18:27).

3. Mounting Red Flags and Financial Motives

Paul pressured Linda soon after their wedding to make him the beneficiary on all her life insurance and retirement accounts—totaling nearly $1 million (22:34–23:20).
Linda’s friend Mary and hospital nurse Sherry Bundy both voiced suspicions about Paul’s motivations, but Linda stayed, unable or unwilling to believe the man caring for her was harming her (24:47–25:58).
Paul had hidden a prior marital history and three children, only discovered by Linda after a phone call from an ex (24:12–24:51).

4. Evidence Emerges: Hospital Incidents and Early Police Involvement

Hospital staff caught signs of tampering: Nurse Sherry Bundy noticed a cloudy IV bag laced with lidocaine, and Nurse Nancy Rowe later observed intentional damage to Linda’s IV port (25:58–28:51).
Linda admitted to police: “Well, the only person I could think of that would even have a motive… would be Paul, my husband. And the only motive I can think of is money. But I don’t want to really even believe that…” (27:17)
Despite suspicions and some circumstantial evidence, no charges were filed, and Linda returned to Paul after each incident.

5. Linda’s Death

Linda died at home on June 9, 1994, after a rapid decline, with Paul alone in the house (18:27–21:27).
An initial autopsy revealed nothing conclusive, labeling the cause of death as undetermined (29:22).

6. Paul’s Behavior After Linda’s Death

Paul quickly collected on insurance policies, totaling over $400,000, plus ongoing retirement benefits (29:22).
Additionally, he filed a claim for a “stolen" Rolex and jewelry worth $9,000 just days after Linda’s passing (33:31–34:42).
He abruptly left his job after being exposed as having faked engineering credentials, moved states, and started a new life with another woman (30:46–33:21).

7. Cold Case Breakthrough & Forensic Revelations

In 2002, Detective Yvonne Scholl revived the dormant case. She uncovered that Paul’s previous wife also became mysteriously ill during their marriage but survived (33:33–35:53).
Investigation revealed that Paul had boasted, “I could actually make a deadly poison in my garage… it would be really hard to detect.” (37:38)
A re-examination of Linda’s tissues found toxic nicotine levels “50 to 100 times more than a regular smoker’s,” plus marks of a likely needle injection behind her ear (38:43–39:37).
Theory: Paul experimented with various toxins, including lidocaine and nicotine, ultimately killing Linda via a lethal nicotine injection, masked by sleeping pills (39:38–40:16).

8. Prosecution and Conviction

Detective Scholl orchestrated a Kansas interview with Curry, where he admitted he was “the only one” with Linda when she died—“an admission that he was the only one who could have poisoned Linda.” (41:42)
In 2014, Paul Curry was convicted of insurance fraud and first-degree murder with special circumstances, sentenced to life without parole (42:28–43:15).

9. Reflections: Victim Psychology and Manipulation

Peyton and Garrett discuss why Linda, despite clear signs, could not abandon Paul—citing the psychology of abusive and manipulative relationships.
- “Perhaps Linda was loving and generous. She was blinded by that… Sometimes the most evil people can be the ones living right beside us.” (43:28)
- “It’s not her fault at all… That can be very manipulative.” (44:18–44:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the couple’s platonic marriage:
Peyton: "Linda told her friends that Paul was never even interested in consummating their marriage. Oh, but for Linda... it seemed that mental stimulation was enough." (13:02)
On suspicion and love:
Linda, to police: “Well, the only person I could think of that would even have a motive… would be Paul, my husband. And the only motive I can think of is money. But I don’t want to really even believe that or think that.” (27:17)
On toxicology findings:
Peyton: “She finds that Linda had 50 to 100 times more nicotine in her system when she died than the average smoker would.” (38:43)
On Paul’s hubris:
Peyton: “He basically admitted at this barbecue, ‘I could actually make a deadly poison in my garage and then… it would be really hard to detect.’” (37:38)
On victim psychology:
Peyton: “We never really know what’s going on behind closed doors…. Sometimes the most evil people can be the ones living right beside us.” (43:28)

Important Timestamps

05:35 — Introduction of Linda Kincaid, setting the scene.
08:36–13:02 — Paul Curry’s Jeopardy! fame, relationship dynamic, and unique aspects of the marriage.
13:54–18:27 — Onset of Linda’s illness, failed diagnoses, and increasing suspicions.
22:34–23:20 & 24:12–24:51 — Financial motives and discovery of Paul’s secret past.
25:58–28:36 — Hospital sabotage incidents and interviews with Linda/police.
29:22–33:21 — Linda’s death, Paul’s insurance collection, confessed fraud regarding credentials.
33:33–37:38 — Cold case reopening; discoveries about Paul’s past, his ominous statements.
38:43–39:37 — Critical forensic breakthrough: nicotine poisoning proven.
41:42–43:15 — Interrogation, confession, and final conviction.
43:57–44:44 — Discussion on manipulation and why victims stay.

Episode Tone and Style

Peyton is deeply invested, empathetic, and detail-oriented, bringing not only facts but emotional context ("I love it and I hate it" vibe).
Garrett brings skepticism, relatable commentary, and levity (“I already know where this is going…” at 21:27; frequent asides and hypotheticals).
The tone is accessible, conversational, and often punctuated by dark humor and mutual teasing between the hosts, even amid harrowing content.

TL;DR

Linda Kincaid was slowly and methodically poisoned by her husband, Paul Curry, who leveraged his intelligence, deception, and the trust of those closest to him. After years undetected and unpunished, a persistent detective re-examined the evidence, revealing a rare and insidious use of nicotine as a murder weapon. Through a combination of dogged investigation and advancements in toxicology, Curry was eventually convicted, but not before Linda’s tragedy served as a stark warning about the hidden dangers of relationships built on manipulation and greed.

Hosts' closing message:
Peyton: “All right, you guys… That was our case this week. The case of Linda Kincaid. And we will see you next time with another one. I love it and I hate it. Goodbye.” (44:45)

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Transcript

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Peyton Moreland (2:09)

You're listening to an Ono Media podcast. Hey everybody. Welcome back to the podcast. This is Murder with My Husband. I'm Peyton Moreland.

Garrett Moreland (2:16)

And I'm Garrett Moreland.

Peyton Moreland (2:17)

And he's the husband.

Peyton Moreland (5:35)

Our sources for this episode are oxygen.com unilad.com cjonline.com thesun.com crimeonline.com thecinemaholic.com grunge.com crack.com cbsnews.com express.co.uk abc news.go.com abc7.com case law. FindLaw.com and World Health Organization all right guys, trends come and go. Bell bottom jeans, Pokemon flip phones. But if there's one trend that I'm happy about disappearing and never coming back, it's probably smoking cigarettes. Now, thankfully, we're no longer being told that smoking is sexy and cool and for the bad boys and girls. Because the truth is out there, cigarettes kill both users and those who live in close proximity to one. But that doesn't mean that cigarette smokers have gone extinct completely. 8 million people still die each year from smoking and secondhand smoke. And the reason some people just can't kick the habit is because of a little stimulant added to cigarettes called nicotine. That poisonous little chemical on its own isn't enough to kill someone, but it definitely keeps them coming back for more. Unless you have it in extremely high doses. Which honestly, is why, if you want to get rid of someone bad enough and you're looking for a way to get away with it, nicotine can actually make for the perfect murder weapon. Let's head now to San Clemente, California, where in the late 80s, a 45 year old woman named Linda Kincaid is working at a Southern California Edison power plant. Now, Linda has been working at this power plant for years. She started at the bottom as a secretary and worked her way up to a manager position before becoming the top training coordinator at the plant. And according to everyone, she Was easily the most fashionable, kindest go getter that worked there. Linda always showed up for work dressed in the trendiest outfits. She worked hard for her money and she liked to spend it on nice expensive things. She was always planning her next big vacation and seemed to always be partnered up with a new attractive man. Now, throughout her time working at the power plant, Linda had been married and divorced twice. And then dating an on again, off again boyfriend named Bill. This is before meeting another coworker in March of 1989. And this coworker is one she fell head over heels for. A 32 year old nuclear engineer named Paul Curry.

Peyton Moreland (18:29)

She was kind of hovering the line of life and death. She had suffered a stroke in the hospital. Then slowly but surely, Linda started to bounce back. Her symptoms died down and she was eventually discharged to go home. Now Friends said that's when Paul really stepped it up. He appeared to be doting on her more than ever, really doing whatever Linda needed was kind of at her beck and call. The illness actually seemed to bring the two of them closer together. That is until December of that year, when Linda's illness mysteriously returned. It was New Year's Eve, 1993, when Linda became violently ill again, noticing that it was the same symptoms she had felt over the summer. Severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration. Linda wasted no time asking Paul to just rush her back to the hospital. And once again, her doctors were totally baffled. Nothing was coming up in her blood work. None of their theories made sense. Even Paul himself seemed totally rattled and confused by her illness. He spent countless hours at her bedside taking care of her, tending to her every need. And he actually did seem really devastated over the fact that his wife of only just a year seemed to be at death's door again. But again, after several days, Linda bounced back. She slowly began to recover and was dispatched and told she could go home. Now, for the next six months, Linda resumed her life, though never really feeling back to 100%. Instead, this time, the condition seemed to be gradually taking a toll on her body. And on the morning of June 9, 1994, Paul sent an email to one of Linda's friends. It was a woman named Mary Sebold. Now, Mary found it strange to be getting that email from Paul that day. She had never gotten an email from him before in her life. But the content of that message was even more worrisome. Paul emailed Linda's friend Mary and said that Linda was feeling worse than ever, that she was wobbly and incoherent, and he wanted to know if Mary would be able to come over and help. Now, apparently, Linda was feeling well enough to go to work that day, though. But she came home and went to bed Almost immediately at 6pm however, around midnight that evening, Paul said he woke up to the sound of their cat in their bedroom. And when he looked over at Linda asleep in their bed, he realized she was no longer breathing. So Paul dialed 911 and paramedics rushed to the house right away, but it was already too late. Linda was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead in the very early hours of June 10, 1994, at just 50 years old.

Peyton Moreland (40:17)

But where do you get all this nicotine? After consulting again with experts, Sholl learned he only needed one pack of cigarettes to get the amount he needed. So I have no idea how you turn a pack of cigarettes into an injectable form, but police are pretty confident that this is what he did. So I will say, though, building this case against Paul happens really slowly. Scholl knows her theory is nothing more than that. A theory. What she really needs is to get Paul Curry to confess. So finally, around 2010, she finds a way to get to this guy. She goes to Kansas, where Paul's now living with a new wife, a new son, and a brand new job as a building inspector. She shows up at his house pretending to be a local police officer with questions alongside two actual local detectives. Scholl tells Paul that they are there to close out the final details of a death investigation regarding Linda Kincaid, his ex. I guess Scholl thought if she pretended to be from Kansas, Paul wouldn't think he was getting arrested. And seemingly she's right, because Paul admits to them, yeah, Linda is my ex wife. And Scholl says to him, quote, the night Linda passed away, you and Linda were alone, Correct? And Paul's like, yeah, that's right. So she goes on asking, so there was no one else in the house with you that night? And he's like, yes. Now, this might not sound like a smoking gun, but to Shoal, this admission is actually pretty strong because it proves that he's admitting he was the only one who could have poisoned Linda. And because we know that poisoning, in order to be fatal, would have to happen pretty quickly, there's only one person with her that night, and he himself admits it, Paul Curry. So she confronts him about it right there. She says, did you poison your wife? He's like, no. Shoal now has what she needs, though, to finally arrest Paul Curry. Sixteen years after Linda's murder, an admission that he was home alone with her when she died of fatal nicotine poisoning is enough. And When Paul's new wife, Teresa, visits him in jail the following day, he admits to her that the case against him isn't looking good. Unfortunately, it would take another four years to get him into court.