Charlotte schools employee charged with attempted murder, stalking
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employee was charged with attempted murder on Friday in a domestic violence case, police said.
Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police provided no information about what they believe happened.
In arrest warrants, police said that Gates tried to murder her husband. She spiked his Celsius energy drink with prescription medications “with the intention of causing a (blackout) condition or incapacitation.”
She also placed a tracking device on his vehicle, according to the warrants, and damaged his window.
The two are separated, according to other records.
Gates is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail.
On Friday, CMS suspended her with pay, according to a personnel record obtained with a public records request. She works as an occupational therapist, and the school system first hired her in 2011, according to the record.
A CMPD news release Friday on the attempted murder charge said detectives found Gates on Friday and arrested her in that case.
Observer public safety editor Patrick Wilson contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM.