• The girl survives after ingesting rat poison capsule
• Father sentenced to 8 Years, appeal planned

A German court has convicted a 28-year-old father of attempting to kill his three-year-old daughter by giving her a homemade capsule containing rat poison in December 2024, according to PEOPLE magazine citing local media reports.

Known only as Elias G. for privacy reasons, the man was found guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and mistreatment of a person under his care. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, though the verdict is not yet final.

Investigators revealed that the capsule contained a lethal dose for a child of her age and that the father’s DNA was found inside it. Reports also indicate he had previously researched methods of killing with poison.

The prosecutor alleged the crime was financially motivated to avoid paying child support, though the court did not accept greed as a direct motive for murder.

After giving the capsule, the father returned the child to his estranged ex-wife, seemingly attempting to shift suspicion onto her.

Fortunately, the girl vomited and the capsule remained intact, saving her life.

The child was rushed to the hospital after her mother called emergency services, and she suffered no serious health issues. She later told a caregiver that her father had put something in her mouth before she was taken to the hospital.

The defense argued that the capsule had not been covered in vomit, but the judge noted it was possible the liquid had spilled onto the sofa, according to an expert. One defense attorney claimed the entire incident had been orchestrated and accused the mother of staging it. The defense has announced plans to appeal the ruling.