EXCLUSIVE
A semi-retired businessman has been charged after allegedly trying to murder his wife by spiking her tea with Ant-Rid for more than 18 months.
Stephan Wagner, 61, was arrested at his home in St Andrews, in Sydney’s southwest, at 11.35am on Tuesday after allegedly poisoning Glenda Wagner, 66, in a domestic violence incident.
An investigation was launched last month when she became seriously ill after drinking tea that the respected IT professional had allegedly prepared.
Police now allege Mr Wagner began poisoning her with the borax-laced Ant-Rid on Boxing Day 2022 until she was hospitalised at 6.23pm on September 16, 2024.
Court documents allege ‘between 12:01am on 26/12/2022 and 6.23pm on 16/09/2024 [Mr Wagner] tried to administer poison Ant-Rid (borax – sodium tetraborate dechydrate) at their house.’
He’s also accused of administering ‘to cause/to be taken intent to murder [and] he intended to injure or was reckless about injuring when giving the poison.’
A third charge alleges Mr Wagner ‘used poison to inflict bodily harm at St Andrews’.
Stephen Wagner, 61, (pictured) has been charged with alleged attempted domestic violence murder
Posts online reveal he is a semi-retired businessman and fitness fanatic
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Mr Wagner had various management roles with big name companies before entering semi-retirement in March 2023.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked for several government departments in the 1990s, including as an engineer for science research agency CSIRO and a communications manager for the army.
He was also employed in management roles across the same decade for Optus, UNSW and Nokia.
Mr Wagner went on to hold various positions at other big companies – including Telstra and Cisco – before settling into the role as AusIndustry Regional Manager for Western Sydney in 2013 until retiring last year.
His extensive CV also notes that he worked as a part-time lecturer at the University of Western Sydney teaching marketing principles between 2013 and 2015.
According to his profile bio, he is currently ‘enjoying semi-retirement whilst still ’empowering business success’.
Photos posted online show that Mr Wagner, who is originally from Melbourne, is a fitness enthusiast, who enjoys running marathons.
Last week, he revealed that he was planning on embarking on a month-long fitness challenge to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
‘Australia is a big country, and for those living in rural and remote areas, access to immediate care isn’t a guarantee. For some communities, the nearest hospital is eight hours drive away,’ he wrote.
‘This October, I’m taking on a month-long fitness challenge to help more people access the care they need. By going further, I hope to raise as much as possible for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).’
In June last year, he also took part in a push-up challenge to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
Mr Wagner is pictured being taken out of his home by police on Tuesday
Police also seized a bottle of insecticide at the home, which has been sent for forensic testing
Property records show that Mr Wagner has lived at the home where he was arrested for more than 29 years.
He was taken to Campbelltown police station and charged with three domestic violence offences: causing poison to be taken with the intent to murder, using poison to endanger life, and using poison to inflict grievous bodily harm.
Police also seized a bottle of insecticide at the home, which has been sent for forensic testing.
Mr Wagner was escorted out of his house by police in handcuffs, wearing cargo pants, a polo shirt and black runners.
After spending the night in custody, Mr Wagner appeared in Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday via video link.
Dressed in a red sweater, Mr Wagner appeared stoic as he sat quietly, only speaking to confirm his name to Magistrate Clare Farnan.
Mr Wagner did not apply for bail and his lawyer asked for the matter to be adjourned.
He is next due to face the same court on December 4.
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