Woman Charged with Serving Drug-Laced Lasagna to Induce Miscarriage

An Iowa woman has received a sentence after being found guilty of attempting to induce a miscarriage in a pregnant woman by serving her a lasagna infused with oxycodone.

Amber Dena Snow entered a guilty plea on Tuesday, May 26, to multiple charges, which included one count of attempted nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy, one count of child endangerment, intent to deliver a controlled substance, and four counts of conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony.

Following her plea, Snow, aged 36, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

Snow’s guilty plea relates to an incident that occurred in late December 2025, as reported by Law & Crime. According to the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, she and a co-conspirator delivered a family-sized pan of lasagna that contained oxycodone.

In January, deputies announced they were investigating “a family-size pan of lasagna that had allegedly been laced with a controlled substance.” Several law enforcement agencies became involved, executing multiple warrants related to the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators ultimately confirmed that Snow and her accomplice intended to induce a miscarriage in the pregnant woman after she consumed the meal.

“During the investigation, it was established that the delivery of the tainted lasagna aimed to cause a miscarriage to a woman in the family that received the lasagna,” the sheriff’s office stated.

Law enforcement officials identified Matthew Uthoff as Snow’s accomplice, and both were detained and questioned. They quickly disclosed their plan, according to the outlet.

The sheriff’s office relied on “electronic communications and search history from the defendants’ accounts and phones before and after the lasagna was prepared and delivered” as crucial evidence while constructing the case.

Authorities noted that the pregnant victim was “unaware” of the drug being placed in the lasagna and had not consented to consuming the oxycodone-laced dish.

While the exact motive behind Snow’s actions remains unclear, it was revealed that she shared custody of her child with members of the intended victim’s family, according to the Des Moines Register.

Snow’s child was reportedly present at the time the contaminated lasagna was prepared and was also present during its delivery.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory tested the lasagna and confirmed it had been infused with oxycodone.

Using oxycodone during pregnancy poses significant risks for both the mother and the baby, which include potential miscarriage, premature birth, poor fetal growth, and severe placental disruption, as noted by the National Institute of Health.

Uthoff, who is reportedly Snow’s husband, was arrested on the same charges. Uthoff, 35, pleaded not guilty to the allegations in April and is currently awaiting his trial.