By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — A 44-year-old Metuchen woman — indicted for attempting to murder a man she has a child with by poisoning him with prescription drugs — once held a pharmacy technician license, according to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
Theresa Freis allegedly administered clonazepam or a benzodiazepine or benzodiazepines to her victim on May 25 in Metuchen, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey.
The victim, whose name is being withheld, became ill and was taken to JFK Medical Center in Edison before he eventually recovered.
Freis was issued a pharmacy technician license on June 16, 2009; however, at some point the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy ordered Freis to voluntarily surrender her license, which expired on August 31, 2012, according to license information by the N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs.
The reason for the order to surrender her license was not clear. Anthony Rubinaccio, executive director of the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy, did not return a call for comment.
Freis was charged on Aug. 24 with attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, according to a release by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
She had initially been arrested on June 17 and was released after posting bail.
The indictment was handed up after Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Vincent Vitale presented evidence and testimony showing that Freis administered the drugs to her victim on May 25 in Metuchen.
No detail was released by the prosecutor’s office on the relationship between Freis and the man; however, Joseph DiRienzo, of DiRienzo, DiRienzo & Dulinski, Westfield, who represents the victim on family law proceedings in connection with Freis, said he could confirm that Freis and the man have a child together.
DiRienzo said he has represented the man in connection with his family law issues and civil proceedings of co-parenting with Freis for two and a half years. He said his partner Patricia Dulinski represented the man for a period of years prior to that.
Freis’ attorney, R. Alexandra Larson, of New Brunswick, who represented Freis on the family law issues, did not return a call for comment.