A second arrest has now been made in a Winneshiek County case in which authorities allege a home-cooked meal was laced with oxycodone in an attempt to cause a miscarriage.
Matthew Louis Uthoff, 35, of Decorah, was arrested March 26, 2026, and charged in connection with the December 28, 2025, incident previously reported by the Fillmore County Journal.
Uthoff is accused of working alongside Amber Snow, who was charged earlier in March, in what investigators describe as a coordinated effort to contaminate a pan of lasagna before delivering it to another household.
According to court documents, the case began in January 2026, when the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a family-style meal may have been tampered with. The agency investigated with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Decorah Police Department, and the Winneshiek County Attorney’s Office.
As part of that investigation, the lasagna was submitted to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory, where testing confirmed the presence of oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Authorities allege the meal was delivered to a residence that included a pregnant woman, with the intent of causing a miscarriage without her knowledge or consent. According to the complaint, the woman was unaware the food had allegedly been altered and did not consent to ingesting any substance intended to terminate her pregnancy.
Investigators identified Uthoff and Snow as co-conspirators through interviews, digital evidence, and witness statements. Court documents state both individuals spoke with law enforcement. Authorities also reviewed electronic communications and search histories from their devices, including activity from before and after the lasagna was prepared and delivered.
Uthoff now faces multiple charges mirroring those filed against Snow, including conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, a Class C felony, and attempted nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy, a Class D felony.
Additional Class D felony counts allege harmful substances were administered to multiple individuals in the household. Court records identify two adult victims by the initials CN and LN, as well as two juveniles identified as NN and WN.
The presence of children in the home is a key part of the case. According to investigators, Snow’s minor child was present during preparation of the lasagna and was aware of the alleged plan. The complaint states the child objected. The child was also present during delivery and remained at the residence where the food was intended to be consumed.
As a result, both Uthoff and Snow are charged with child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor, for allegedly creating a substantial risk to a child’s physical, mental, or emotional health or safety.
Investigators allege the lasagna was intended to be shared among members of the household, creating potential exposure beyond the intended target. Authorities have not indicated whether any injuries were reported.
Court records show Uthoff was booked March 26 on a warrant issued in Winneshiek County. His bond was set at $38,000 cash or surety.
Snow was booked March 10 on a related warrant. Her bond was set at $100,000 cash only.
Authorities requested arrest warrants and no-contact orders as part of the case.
The case remains pending in Winneshiek County District Court.
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