Trial for Kayla Bonkowski, former CMU student accused of poisoning roommate, delayed until April

The trial for the former Central Michigan University student who allegedly poisoned her roommate’s iced tea with bleach has been moved to April 8.

Isabella County Prosecutor Risa Scully said Kayla A. Bonkowski’s trial will begin before Judge Paul H. Chamberlain. Both sides met to discuss terms of a possible plea bargain but were unable to resolve the matter, Scully said.

“There was a settlement conference after the bond hearing, and the charges are still pending,” she said.

Judge Mark H. Duthie ordered the trial to be adjourned at the request of the prosecutor and her defense attorney. The charges can result in up to a maximum 15-year penalty.

Defense attorney Todd Levitt previously told Central Michigan Life he is looking forward to proving the Sterling Heights native’s innocence.

“You’re more likely to get sick from drinking pool water than in this case,” Levitt said.

On Nov. 7, Bonkowski allegedly put bleach in her 20-year-old roommate’s iced tea at their Jamestown apartment complex following an argument over dirty dishes, according to court documents.

Bonkowski said she knew poisoning her roommate was a serious thing, but she did it anyway because she said her roommate was being “mean,” according to an affidavit.

After consuming the iced tea, Bonkowski’s roommate was taken to the hospital for treatment and later reported the incident to the authorities.

The court found Bonkowski in violation of her bond conditions on Jan. 22 after being spotted at Wayside Central, 2000 S. Mission St., on Jan. 9 at the same time as the roommate.

The conditions she broke include a restraining order and attending an establishment that served alcohol.

Bonkowski was then held without bond in the Isabella County Jail for 13 days before Feb. 4, when the court denied a motion to reinstate the original bond that was set at $20,000, which was paid on Dec. 12, 2012.

Instead, the court set a new bond with added conditions that did not allow Bonkowski to be in Isabella County for any reason other than to appear in court or to meet with her attorney.

Other conditions included a 10 p.m. curfew and requiring Bonkowski to live at home with her parents. Bonkowski was already staying with her parents while attending classes at Macomb Community College prior to being spotted at Wayside Central.