The Jeopardy Champion Who Poisoned His Wife: Inside the Paul Curry Murder Case
The mysterious case of Paul Curry involves far more than a simple murder-for-money scenario. In the early 1990s, Linda Curry, a successful career woman at Southern California Edison, fell for Paul's intellectual charm despite their 13-year age difference. Friends described Paul as exceptionally brilliant—even a Jeopardy champion who won nearly $27,000—though some found him egotistical. Their relationship progressed quickly, leading to marriage in September 1992 after three years of dating.
Soon after their wedding, troubling patterns emerged. Linda began experiencing unexplained illnesses while Paul pushed for a million-dollar life insurance policy with himself as beneficiary. Though Linda rejected this particular policy, Paul was already named beneficiary on her existing policies worth nearly a million dollars. Despite friends' concerns and Linda's own doubts—she even asked a friend to move in temporarily to observe Paul's behavior—she remained devoted to her husband until her death in June 1994, a case that would remain unresolved for almost two decades.
Key Takeaways
Linda Curry died mysteriously from nicotine poisoning in 1994, despite being a non-smoker.
Paul Curry presented himself as a genius and caring husband while secretly positioning himself to benefit from Linda's substantial life insurance policies.
Despite friends' warnings and her own suspicions, Linda remained with Paul until her death, which took nearly twenty years to be prosecuted.
The Enigmatic Case of Paul Curry
Paul Curry appeared to be a genius with charm and intellect that captivated Linda, a successful career woman who worked at the Southern California Edison nuclear power plant. Their relationship began in 1989 when Linda was 45 and Paul was just 32. Although not conventionally handsome, Paul's intelligence made a strong impression—he had won approximately $27,000 on Jeopardy in the 1980s and claimed membership in Mensa, the high IQ society.
Linda's close friends described her as a fashionista who loved dressing up and going dancing on weekends. She had advanced from a secretary to management at the nuclear facility, where she met Paul. After two previous divorces and an on-and-off relationship with Bill Sandretto, a life insurance salesman, Linda seemed to have found happiness with Paul.
The couple married in September 1992, but troubling signs emerged quickly. Within a month of marriage, Paul suggested taking out a million-dollar life insurance policy on Linda with himself as the beneficiary. Her friends immediately raised concerns, viewing this as a significant red flag.
Timeline of Suspicious Circumstances:
Paul concealed financial obligations to two ex-wives and three children
Linda noticed her finances diminishing despite their combined annual income of $140,000+
Paul showed little romantic interest in Linda (they had minimal physical intimacy)
Linda asked her friend Frankie to move in temporarily to observe Paul's behavior
Linda's health began deteriorating mysteriously after the marriage. She experienced unexplained symptoms—extreme fatigue, weight loss, and general illness. Multiple doctors could not determine the cause of her condition. All the while, Paul maintained the appearance of a devoted husband caring for his sick wife.
On June 9, 1994, Linda Curry died just before midnight. The cause was later determined to be massive nicotine poisoning, with catastrophic levels found in her system despite the fact that she was not a smoker. This unusual cause of death raised immediate suspicions about Paul.
Orange County prosecutor Ebrahim Baytieh ultimately took on the case nearly two decades after Linda's death. Though challenging to prove, the prosecution believed Paul had been systematically poisoning his wife while pretending to care for her. There were no eyewitnesses who saw him administer poison, nor direct evidence of him obtaining nicotine.
Friends like Mary Seebol had warned Linda, telling her: "You need to get away from him. He's trying to kill you." Despite these warnings, Linda remained devoted to Paul until her death. As one friend noted, "She died because she loved him."
Characterizing the Villain
Paul Curry presented a complex facade that masked his true nature. Initially perceived as a genius with impressive credentials—including a Jeopardy win worth $26-27,000 in the 1980s and membership in Mensa—his intelligence became his defining characteristic. Rather than physical attractiveness or wealth, Paul's brilliance attracted Linda, who was impressed by his intellectual capabilities.
Behind this intellectual facade lurked a calculating individual. Paul exhibited several concerning behaviors that his wife's friends noticed:
Financial deception: Despite their combined annual income of $140,000+, Linda found herself with less money after marriage
Hidden past: Paul concealed his obligations to two ex-wives and three children
Suspicious insurance request: He attempted to take out a $1 million life insurance policy on Linda shortly after their marriage
His workplace reputation painted him as exceptionally intelligent but somewhat arrogant. Mike Flower, Paul's boss, noted that "he let people know" about his intelligence, while others described him as "egotistical" and someone who "thought highly of himself."
The marriage dynamic revealed additional red flags. Paul showed minimal physical interest in Linda, with friends confirming the lack of passion in their relationship. Yet he maintained a convincing performance of devotion, preparing "exotic" salad dressings and using affectionate nicknames that some friends found "sickening."
This duplicity extended to his most sinister actions. While presenting himself as the "loving husband" holding Linda's hand during her mysterious illness, investigators believe he was simultaneously poisoning her with nicotine. The prosecutor characterized Paul as a "self-centered, devious evildoer" and a "cold-blooded killer" who nearly escaped justice for two decades.
The Deadly Acts
The Methodical Poisoning
Paul Curry presented himself as the loving husband while his wife Linda suffered from mysterious health issues. Linda became increasingly ill - weak, fatigued, and alarmingly thin. Multiple doctors examined her but couldn't determine the cause of her deteriorating condition. Meanwhile, Paul maintained the façade of a concerned spouse, seemingly caring for his suffering wife.
Behind his supportive demeanor, evidence suggests he was systematically poisoning her. Friends like Mary Seabold and Bill Sandretto repeatedly urged Linda to leave the relationship, convinced her life was in danger. Despite their warnings, Linda remained with Paul until her death on June 9, 1994.
The Lethal Nicotine Exposure
Investigators determined Linda died from massive nicotine poisoning. The toxicology report revealed catastrophic levels of nicotine in her system - particularly striking since Linda was not a smoker. Nicotine, recognized as one of the strongest poisons known, was an unusual and deliberate choice of toxin.
The poison's presence raised critical questions: How was it administered? Was it hidden in food, beauty products, or medications? Paul frequently prepared special meals for Linda, including exotic salad dressings that he would create himself.
The Circumstantial Case
The prosecution faced significant challenges with no direct evidence linking Paul to the nicotine. No eyewitnesses ever saw him administer poison to Linda. Investigators couldn't establish how he obtained the nicotine or precisely how he delivered it to his wife.
What they did have was a pattern of suspicious behavior:
Paul convinced Linda to name him beneficiary on life insurance policies worth nearly $1 million
He attempted to persuade her to take out an additional $1 million policy shortly after their marriage
He concealed financial obligations to two ex-wives and three children when they married
Their significant combined income of $140,000+ annually was mysteriously insufficient
Orange County prosecutor Ebrahim Baytieh, taking on the case nearly two decades after Linda's death, remained confident he could prove beyond reasonable doubt that Paul Curry had methodically poisoned his wife for financial gain.
Linda Curry: A Life Remembered
Social and Professional History
Linda Curry was a vibrant, fashionable woman who built an impressive career at Southern California Edison. Starting in an entry-level position at the Santa Noy nuclear power plant in the 1960s, she quickly climbed the corporate ladder from secretary to management through determination and hard work. She developed a reputation as a "go-getter" who was committed to professional advancement.
Her personal style was impeccable—she was known as a true fashionista who always coordinated her outfits with matching shoes, purses, earrings, and bracelets. Linda enjoyed an active social life, often going dancing on weekends with friends, dressed up in high heels with carefully styled hair and makeup.
Linda owned a beautiful home in San Clemente that friends described as "a dream house" and "where a princess would live." Despite her professional success, she struggled with financial management, often spending beyond her means. This spending habit contributed to tensions in her relationship with Bill Sandrao, an insurance salesman whom she dated on and off for eight years.
Interactions and Impressions of Paul
Linda met Paul Curry at work in 1989 when he was hired as an engineering consultant at Southern California Edison. Despite their age difference—he was 32 and she was 45—they began dating and eventually married on September 12, 1992, after three years together.
Paul had a reputation for exceptional intelligence. His colleagues described him as "extremely smart," even "too smart," and he was known to demonstrate his intelligence in ways that some found arrogant. He claimed to be a member of Mensa and a former Jeopardy champion who had won approximately $27,000 on the show in the 1980s.
Their relationship dynamic was complex. Friends noted that Paul and Linda used "baby talk" and pet names with each other, which some found excessive. However, the relationship lacked physical intimacy, which concerned Linda. Paul also kept significant secrets from her, including that he was supporting two ex-wives and three children—information he had hidden before their marriage.
Early in their marriage, Paul suggested that Linda take out a $1 million life insurance policy with him as the beneficiary, which alarmed her friends. Although Linda never purchased this additional policy, she already had existing policies worth nearly $1 million, with Paul named as beneficiary on some of them.
Linda's uncertainty about Paul's intentions led her to ask a friend to temporarily move into their home to observe him. Surprisingly, this friend reported back positively, saying he appeared genuinely caring and attentive toward Linda. Even some of Linda's friends who were initially skeptical noted that Paul seemed to pamper her, preparing special meals with "exotic" salad dressings as a gesture of affection.
The Money Behind the Murder
Financial motivations serve as a compelling explanation for Paul Curry's actions. The marriage between Linda and Paul revealed significant financial disparities from the beginning. While Linda was financially stable with a beautiful home and successful career, Paul entered the relationship with substantially fewer assets. Their combined annual household income exceeded $140,000, yet Linda found herself with less disposable income than before their marriage.
Paul's hidden financial obligations soon became apparent. He was supporting two ex-wives and three children—commitments he had concealed from Linda during their courtship. This financial burden placed strain on their shared resources and represented just one of many deceptions in their relationship.
The most troubling red flag appeared when Paul suggested Linda purchase a $1 million life insurance policy with himself as the beneficiary. This request came early in their marriage, raising immediate concerns among Linda's friends. Though Linda rejected this specific request, Paul was already well aware that she held existing life insurance policies valued at nearly $1 million dollars.
These existing policies had significant value to Paul. He had already been named beneficiary on several of them, positioning him to receive substantial financial gain upon Linda's death. When Linda's friends urged her to change the beneficiaries on her policies, she hesitated, torn between suspicion and her emotional attachment to Paul.
The financial motive becomes even more apparent when considering the timeline. Paul, described by colleagues as exceptionally intelligent, appeared to have calculated his approach carefully. As Linda's mysterious illness progressed, he maintained the appearance of a devoted husband while potentially standing to gain nearly a million dollars from her death.
Despite the clear financial incentive, building a legal case around this motive proved challenging. With no eyewitnesses to the poisoning and no direct evidence of Paul obtaining nicotine, prosecutors faced significant hurdles in connecting the financial motivation to Linda's death.
The Evolution of Linda's Health Crisis
A Distressing Phone Call to Her Friend
Linda had been married to Paul Curry for only about a month when she reached out to Mary with concerning news. "Paul wants to take out a million-dollar life insurance policy on me. What do you think?" she asked her friend. Mary's reaction was immediate and alarmed: "Are you crazy? Why would you do that?" This conversation marked the beginning of Mary's suspicions about Paul's intentions.
Mary and Linda shared a close bond formed during their time working together at Southern California Edison's Santa Noy nuclear power plant. Their friendship was built on similar interests and ambitious career goals. Both women had advanced from entry-level positions to management roles over the years.
Deteriorating Health and Troubling Patterns
Shortly after their Vegas wedding, Linda's health began to decline mysteriously. She experienced extreme fatigue, weakness, and dramatic weight loss. Her appearance changed noticeably as she grew thinner and more frail. Multiple doctors examined her but couldn't determine the cause of her symptoms.
Throughout this period, Paul maintained the appearance of a devoted husband. He prepared special meals for her, played music, and held her hand during her worst moments. To outsiders, he seemed like a caring spouse concerned about his wife's unexplained illness.
The true nature of Linda's condition would only be discovered after her death on June 9, 1994. Toxicology reports revealed catastrophic levels of nicotine in her system—a shocking finding since Linda was not a smoker. Medical experts noted that nicotine is one of the strongest poisons known.
Friends like Mary and Bill had urged Linda to leave Paul, with Mary explicitly warning, "Get away from him. He's trying to kill you." Despite these pleas, Linda remained devoted to her husband. As one friend observed, "She died because she loved him."
Paul's behavior raised numerous red flags beyond the insurance policy request:
Financial issues: Despite their combined annual income of $140,000+, money problems persisted
Hidden personal history: Paul concealed that he was supporting two ex-wives and three children
Lack of intimacy: Linda confided to friends about their non-existent sex life
Pattern of deception: Friends noted "little lies that just kept coming up"
The case remained unsolved for nearly twenty years until Orange County prosecutor Ebrahim Baytieh took it on, convinced he could prove Paul had poisoned Linda with nicotine.
Legal Strategies and the Quest for Justice
The prosecution of Paul Curry presented unique challenges due to the unusual nature of the alleged crime. Nicotine poisoning as a murder method is exceptionally rare, creating significant legal hurdles for prosecutor Ebrahim Baytieh who took on this cold case nearly two decades after Linda Curry's death.
Evidence in the case was largely circumstantial. Investigators had no eyewitnesses who observed Paul administering poison to Linda. Additionally, they lacked direct evidence that he had ever obtained nicotine for the purpose of harming his wife.
Despite these evidentiary challenges, the prosecution remained confident. "This is a hard case, but I have no doubt whatsoever that he did it," Baytieh asserted, believing he could prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The timeline became a critical component of the prosecution's strategy. They focused on establishing that Linda's mysterious illness coincided with her marriage to Paul, a period when she experienced fatigue, significant weight loss, and unexplained symptoms that baffled numerous doctors.
The insurance policies formed another crucial element of the prosecution's case. Paul had attempted to convince Linda to purchase a million-dollar life insurance policy naming him as beneficiary shortly after their marriage. While she didn't acquire that specific policy, she already had several policies worth nearly a million dollars with Paul listed as beneficiary on some.
Friends who had urged Linda to leave Paul became important witnesses. Mary Sebold and others had explicitly warned Linda, saying: "You've got to get away from him. He's trying to kill you." These warnings, though unheeded, helped establish a pattern of concerning behavior that predated Linda's death.
The prosecution needed to establish motive, focusing on three key elements:
Financial gain through insurance payouts
Paul's hidden financial obligations to ex-wives and children
The couple's troubled relationship, including their lack of intimacy
Medical evidence proved decisive in the case. Toxicology reports revealed "catastrophic levels of nicotine" in Linda's system at the time of her death, despite her being a non-smoker. This unusual poisoning method became the centerpiece of the prosecution's argument for murder.
The defense faced the challenging task of explaining how a non-smoker could have lethal levels of nicotine in her system. They also needed to counter the prosecution's timeline that linked Linda's illness directly to her relationship with Paul.
Personal Stories and Insights
Friendships and Personal Observations
Linda's close friend Mary Seabold describes their immediate connection when they met in the 1960s while working at Southern California Edison's Santa Noy nuclear power plant. "It was instant bonding," she recalls. They shared many similarities—both tall women who enjoyed eating and had ambitions to advance their careers.
Mary remembers Linda as a "fashionista" who always coordinated her outfits perfectly—matching shoes, purse, earrings, and bracelets. Both women started in entry-level positions but were determined to move up professionally. "We were go-getters and we wanted to get ahead," Mary explains.
Frankie Thurber, another close friend and coworker, was impressed by Linda's beautiful home in San Clemente. "It's where a princess would live," Frankie remarks. Despite having this dream house and a successful career, friends noticed troubling patterns in Linda's relationship with Paul.
Several friends expressed concerns about Paul's character and intentions. Mary was particularly alarmed when Linda mentioned Paul wanted her to take out a million-dollar life insurance policy naming him as beneficiary shortly after they married. Mary advised her to remove him from existing policies, saying, "Get him off. You need to change your life policy right away."
Linda's Relationships and Lifestyle
Before meeting Paul, Linda had already been through two divorces and had dated Bill Sandrao, a life insurance salesman, on and off for eight years. Bill describes their relationship positively: "She had a great personality, very loving. We went on trips together, we had a great time." However, he admits he was hesitant about marriage due to Linda's spending habits. "For every dollar she made, she spent two," he notes.
Linda began dating Paul Curry in 1989 when she was 45 and he was 32. Despite the age difference, they married in September 1992. Friends observed their relationship dynamics closely. Mary found their affectionate behavior somewhat excessive, noting "They would talk their little baby talk... the little nicknames. It was a little bit sickening."
Paul had developed a reputation at work for his intelligence. His former boss Mike Flower states, "The only real complaint most people had with Paul was that he was too smart." Others perceived this differently—Frankie thought "he was very egotistical. He thought highly of himself."
Linda confided in Mary about intimacy issues in the marriage. Additionally, financial concerns emerged when Linda discovered Paul was supporting two ex-wives and three children—families he had concealed from her before their marriage. These discoveries, along with her suspicions about his true feelings, prompted Linda to ask Frankie to temporarily move in and observe Paul's behavior.
Surprisingly, Frankie's observations seemed positive: "I've watched everything. I don't see it. He dotes over you, he loves you, he can't do enough for you." Even Mary acknowledged Paul's attentiveness, noting how he would prepare special salad dressings for Linda.
Analyzing the Connubial Dynamics
The relationship between Paul and Linda Curry presents a complex tapestry of contrasting elements. Linda, described by friends as a "fashionista" with a vibrant personality, had established herself as a successful professional at Southern California Edison. She had advanced from a secretarial position to management and owned a beautiful home in San Clemente that friends described as "a dream house" fit for "a princess."
Paul Curry entered Linda's life in 1989 when he was 32 and she was 45. Their colleagues and friends noted his exceptional intelligence as his defining characteristic. As a consultant engineer teaching nuclear safety, Paul had built a reputation for being extremely intelligent—sometimes described as "too smart" by coworkers. He often mentioned his Jeopardy winnings and Mensa membership.
The couple married on September 12, 1992, after dating for three years. However, their marriage displayed several concerning patterns:
Financial discrepancies: Despite their combined annual income of at least $140,000, Linda discovered she had less money than before marriage
Hidden past: Paul had concealed two ex-wives and three children he was supporting
Insurance concerns: Paul requested Linda purchase a $1 million life insurance policy with him as beneficiary
Intimacy issues: Linda confided to friends about their lack of physical intimacy
Linda's uncertainty about Paul's intentions led her to ask friend Frankie to temporarily move in and observe their relationship dynamics. Surprisingly, Frankie reported back positively, noting that Paul appeared genuinely loving and attentive. Even Linda's skeptical friend Mary acknowledged that Paul pampered Linda, creating special salad dressings for her.
Despite these outward displays of affection, the relationship exhibited troubling warning signs. Linda's friends repeatedly advised her to change her insurance beneficiaries and distance herself from Paul. Their concern intensified as Linda began experiencing unexplained health problems, becoming thin and fatigued with no medical explanation.
Doubts and Defensive Measures
Linda's friends began expressing serious concerns about her relationship with Paul Curry. After just one month of marriage, Linda called her friend Mary to discuss Paul's request to take out a million-dollar life insurance policy on her. Mary responded with alarm, asking, "Are you crazy? Why would you do that?"
Despite warnings from her close circle, Linda seemed unwilling to accept any negative view of her husband. "She said, 'Oh Paul's such a good husband, he wouldn't do that,'" Mary recalled. This blind trust persisted even as Linda's health mysteriously deteriorated.
Friends became increasingly worried as Linda's condition worsened. She experienced fatigue, significant weight loss, and persistent illness that baffled medical professionals. "She was so thin," one friend noted, observing how dramatically Linda's appearance had changed.
The situation became so concerning that several friends directly confronted Linda. "You've got to get away from him. He's trying to kill you," Mary told her bluntly. "Leave, get out of there." Bill echoed these sentiments, pleading with Linda to escape what they perceived as a dangerous situation.
Linda's reluctance to leave Paul stemmed from genuine affection. As prosecutor Rahim Bai later observed, "There's no doubt in my mind that she loved him. She died because she loved him." This emotional attachment made her unwilling to consider Paul's potential involvement in her illness.
At one point, Linda's suspicions did surface enough that she asked her friend Frankie to move into their home temporarily. Frankie's mission was clear: "Would you watch Paul and see if you think he's genuine with me, that he really cares about me?" After observing Paul closely, Frankie reported back that he seemed genuinely devoted to Linda.
Even Mary, who had been skeptical of Paul from the beginning, noted how he would prepare "exotic, wonderful new salad dressings" for Linda, presenting himself as the attentive, caring husband. This apparent devotion made it difficult for anyone to convince Linda that Paul might be harming her.
The friends' concerns would later seem prophetic when investigators discovered catastrophic levels of nicotine in Linda's system after her death in June 1994. Despite Linda not being a smoker, the poison had somehow entered her system in lethal amounts.
Closing Chapter: The Fatal Outcome
The culmination of Linda and Paul Curry's relationship ended in tragedy on June 9, 1994, just before midnight. What appeared to be a loving marriage on the surface masked a sinister reality that would take nearly two decades to unravel.
Medical examinations revealed catastrophic levels of nicotine in Linda's system—a substance she had no history of using as she was not a smoker. This lethal poisoning represented an extremely rare cause of death, raising immediate suspicions about the circumstances surrounding her passing.
Linda's declining health had been evident for months before her death. She experienced chronic fatigue, significant weight loss, and mysterious symptoms that baffled numerous doctors. Despite consulting multiple medical professionals, no one could identify the cause of her deteriorating condition.
Friends had desperately tried to warn Linda. "You've got to get away from him. He's trying to kill you," one friend had pleaded, while others begged her to leave the house. Despite these warnings, Linda's devotion to Paul remained unwavering until the end.
The investigation faced substantial challenges:
No eyewitnesses ever saw Paul administer poison
No direct evidence proved he obtained nicotine
Limited forensic technology was available in 1994
Paul maintained the role of the devoted husband throughout Linda's illness and at her bedside during her final moments. He played music for her and held her hand as she slipped away, maintaining his façade of devotion.
Orange County prosecutor Ebrahim Baytieh ultimately took on the cold case, determined to prove that Paul Curry had methodically poisoned his wife with nicotine. The prosecutor firmly believed that despite the passage of time, justice could still be served in this complex case of calculated murder.
The financial motivation became increasingly clear as investigations revealed:
Financial Factors Details Life Insurance Policies Nearly $1 million in total coverage Beneficiary Status Paul named on multiple policies Previous Attempt Paul had tried to convince Linda to purchase an additional $1 million policy Linda's Assets Beautiful home, valuable possessions, and substantial income
Linda's death tragically demonstrated how her love for Paul became her ultimate vulnerability. Despite friends' warnings and mounting evidence of deception, she remained committed to a husband who, prosecutors believed, had been systematically poisoning her for financial gain.
