A New Port Richey woman has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly attacking her husband with sulfuric acid, leading to his death, authorities announced Monday.

Chuanying He, 50, was initially arrested last Thursday on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery. Police say she admitted to pouring acid on her husband, 65-year-old Robert Heyden, at their home in the Briar Patch community.

Heyden suffered critical chemical burns and was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Following his death, the charges against He were upgraded to first-degree murder.

According to the arrest affidavit, officers responded to the couple’s residence on Slippery Rock Drive around 5:15 p.m. after He called 911 and confessed to using acid on her husband. When officers arrived, they found the bedroom door barricaded with a wooden bar and a wire attached to the doorknob—an apparent attempt to prevent Heyden from escaping.

Inside the room, police found Heyden with extensive chemical burns. He reportedly told officers, “She tried to kill me.” Tests confirmed the presence of sulfuric acid on the bed and floor.

He was taken into custody at the scene and remains in the Pasco County Jail without bond.

Court records show the couple married in August 2024, but Heyden filed for divorce in March of this year. He had requested exclusive use of the home during the divorce proceedings. A court hearing in the case had been scheduled for the day after the attack.

Investigators believe the evidence—including the acquisition of the acid and the barricading of the bedroom—indicates the attack was premeditated.

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