Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has used the name “Black Widow” for Samantha Adams, a 39-year-old Florida woman now facing criminal charges. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Adams is charged with second-degree attempted murder, tampering with evidence, and possession of prescription drugs that include oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam. The man who reported the case told deputies he met Adams on a dating app and knew her only as “Nala.” He said they were at his house a few days before he contacted the police and argued about a car he had bought for her. Authorities said she picked up her purse and walked out, then came back with two whiskey drinks. According to Law&Crime, police said he drank the whiskey as “things progressed romantically.” Adams then stopped and demanded $1,000, deputies said. He refused, and she left. Later that night, he told investigators he felt groggy and passed out. He was reportedly taken to a hospital. Hospital staff found benzodiazepine after the man lost consciousness Doctors determined he had overdosed on benzodiazepine, a drug found in anxiety medications and muscle relaxers. He reportedly tested positive for that drug. The man told authorities he was not taking any medication that contained it. "SHE TRIED TO KILL HIM": A woman whom deputies called the "black widow" is accused of poisoning a Haines City man she met online. https://t.co/iPwDTcKjDK pic.twitter.com/l9Ttv5YyJL— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) September 1, 2026 He also told deputies about other times he felt groggy and passed out while drinking with Adams. Police said one of those incidents ended with him accidentally backing into a police cruiser. An affidavit stated that investigators spoke with another man who described similar experiences with Adams. Deputies arrested Adams last week and said she had several prescription drugs in her possession. Adams is in the Polk County Jail without bond. Her next court date is set for September 29. Florida has seen other dramatic courthouse incidents too, such as when a man barely escaped jail only to allegedly make the courthouse his next crime scene. “She tried to kill him. She tried to overdose him. She tried to extort him,” Judd said in a video. “We refer to her as Black Widow,” the sheriff said. “It is possible that there could be more people out there who have been victimized by Samantha Adams,” Judd said. “Her motivation is money, and as we have seen with this case, she is willing to go to great lengths to get money, including murder.” "BLACK WIDOW" ARRESTED: A woman whom Polk County deputies called the "black widow" was arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder after investigators said she poisoned a man she met online. https://t.co/iPwDTcKjDK pic.twitter.com/5qrn7JVCJV— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) September 1, 2026 The Sheriff’s Office said Adams is accused of targeting older men on dating apps and then drugging and extorting them. The investigation began on Aug. 20 after the victim said he believed she had put something in his drink. The sheriff’s office has investigated other violent schemes for financial gain, such as when a Florida man was accused of paying his tenant to ambush and kill his wife’s ex-husband.