In June 2025, a jury convicted Brian Mann, a chiropractor with a business in Decatur, of attempting to murder his wife, Hannah Pettey, by poisoning her with lead. According to trial testimony, Pettey suffered debilitating pain for months before being hospitalized in January 2022. Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) determined her body contained lead levels described by her mother as "astronomical," which they concluded had been ingested deliberately.
The investigation began after the Alabama Department of Human Resources notified Hartselle Police of Pettey's condition. During the trial, Dr. Felicia Hataway testified that while a safe lead level for an adult is near 10, Pettey's levels were in the 80s. Pettey testified that Mann had provided her with daily supplement capsules during her illness, though Mann denied these allegations, claiming he was unaware of the cause of her decline.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Mann was the beneficiary of multiple life insurance policies in Pettey's name across several companies. The couple's insurance agent testified that these policies would have paid out over $1 million in the event of Pettey's death. Pettey also testified that Mann had opposed her going to the hospital and expressed concern over insurance coverage.
Following the conviction, Judge Charles Elliott sentenced Mann to life in prison in August 2025. During sentencing, the judge indicated he would personally oppose parole for Mann in the future and kept victim compensation fees low to allow Pettey to seek larger damages through a potential civil lawsuit. Mann maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, initially suggesting Pettey’s mother, Nicole Pettey, was responsible for the situation.
Hannah Pettey, a teacher and mother of two, continues to manage long-term health issues resulting from lead toxicity. The trial revealed that her lead levels were eight times higher than the safe adult threshold of 10. Medical staff at UAB initially told her mother she had hours to live upon her January 2022 admission.
The financial scale of the case involved over $1 million in potential life insurance payouts. Source 3 reported that lead from a construction project was used to poison Pettey. Pettey has since returned to her former home with her children, though the physical effects of the poisoning required nearly two months of hospitalization.
While Mann is serving a life sentence, the couple remains legally married. A court date for their divorce proceedings is scheduled for December 2026. Pettey has stated she has forgiven Mann but is focusing on her career and children. Mann's conviction was recently upheld, according to local reports.