Alabama Woman Survives Husband’s Poison Plot Exposed

In the quiet town of Decatur, Alabama, a story of betrayal, survival, and resilience has captured national attention, culminating in a gripping CBS documentary. The case of Hannah Pettey, a young mother and teacher, unfolded over several harrowing years, ultimately revealing a calculated attempt on her life by her husband, Brian Mann. The ordeal, chronicled in the recent CBS '48 Hours' episode titled 'The Gaslighting of Hannah Pettey,' has shed light on the dark undercurrents that can exist within seemingly ordinary lives.

Hannah’s nightmare began in the summer of 2021, a time when her marriage to Brian Mann, a local chiropractor, was already on shaky ground. According to CBS and AL.com, Hannah started experiencing troubling symptoms—abdominal pain, nausea, and severe back pain—which grew steadily worse as the months passed. By November, her health had deteriorated so badly that she struggled to function, and in January 2022, she was admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital. There, her mother, Nicole Pettey, recounted that Hannah suffered a massive seizure within hours of arrival and was placed on a ventilator. Doctors soon discovered the cause: Hannah’s blood contained dangerously high levels of lead, eight times the normal amount—levels that could not have been accidental.

With this revelation, what had seemed like a tragic medical mystery quickly became a criminal investigation. Hannah’s ordeal was not just an unfortunate coincidence. As investigators dug deeper, suspicion fell on those closest to her. Both her husband and her mother were initially considered, as they had the most access to Hannah. But it was Brian Mann’s actions that stood out. According to court records cited by CBS’s '48 Hours,' Brian had been providing Hannah with what he claimed were vitamin pills since the summer of 2021. The pills, he said, would help strengthen her immune system during their stressful divorce proceedings.

But the pills were no simple health supplements. As reported by The Cinemaholic, authorities soon discovered that Brian Mann had a significant financial motive. Detectives uncovered five life insurance policies on Hannah, totaling $1.3 million, all of which named Brian as the beneficiary. Further, he had unsuccessfully applied for two additional policies worth another $1.5 million. This, combined with his insistence that Hannah take the pills, painted a chilling picture of premeditation.

Yet, the evidence was not easy to come by. Initial searches of the couple’s home yielded no traces of lead. In a bizarre twist, Brian attempted to portray himself as a victim, too, submitting himself for an X-ray and claiming to have lead in his system. However, a nurse at Decatur General Hospital told police she found his behavior suspicious, and the lead in his system appeared to be of recent origin—almost as if he had ingested it deliberately to deflect suspicion.

The breakthrough came thanks to a tipster who revealed that Brian had recently overseen construction at his chiropractic office, specifically the installation of an X-ray room. There, lead sheets had been used, and leftover material remained on the premises. Armed with this new evidence, authorities arrested Brian Mann in September 2022. He was released on a $500,000 bond in January 2023 but was quickly re-arrested after failing to surrender his passport, as reported by CBS and The Cinemaholic.

Brian’s trial, which began in June 2025, drew widespread attention. The prosecution laid out a clear case: Brian had laced the vitamin pills with lead, intending to poison his wife and collect on her life insurance. The defense, for its part, questioned whether the substance found in Hannah’s system was truly lead and challenged the prosecution’s narrative. But after more than three hours of jury deliberation, Brian Mann was found guilty of attempted murder on June 12, 2025. Two months later, on August 27, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, as confirmed by CBS and local news outlets. He is currently held at Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery County, his appeals denied by both the trial judge and the Court of Appeals.

For Hannah, the journey to recovery has been long and arduous. During her two-month hospitalization, she underwent continuous colon irrigation to rid her body of the toxic metal. She lost nearly 40 pounds and faced a future clouded by uncertainty. Yet, as she told CBS’s Anne-Marie Green, she found strength in forgiveness and the unwavering support of her family. “I’ve forgiven him, and I just wish that he could change someday to change his ways… for his family and children,” Hannah said in a poignant interview. She also expressed her intention to one day tell her children, Lincoln and Gracie, the truth about what happened, stating, “I want to be honest with them, because they do have a right to know the truth.”

Despite the trauma, Hannah’s resilience has shone through. After her discharge, she filed for divorce from Brian, though the proceedings were paused during his trial. She returned to her studies, graduating from Athens State University in December 2024 with a degree in Elementary Education. By 2025, she had embarked on a new career as a second-grade teacher at Chestnut Grove Elementary School, determined to provide a stable and loving environment for her children.

Life for Hannah and her family has slowly returned to a new normal. In September 2025, after four years and five moves, she and her children finally settled back into their own home. She celebrated this milestone with a heartfelt message: “I’ve always loved this house, obviously, there are some memories I would rather forget, but I choose to focus on the good ones and do my best to build a lifetime of many more for my kids.” That December, she surprised Lincoln and Gracie with a new puppy, Tuxx, marking another step forward in their healing journey.

The CBS documentary, which aired on January 10, 2026, has brought Hannah’s story to a national audience, featuring interviews with Hannah, her mother, law enforcement officials, and even Brian Mann himself. The episode delves into the complexities of the case, the painstaking investigation, and the emotional aftermath for those involved. It serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of perseverance in the face of unimaginable betrayal.

Hannah’s ordeal may have begun in darkness, but her determination to reclaim her life and focus on her children’s future is a powerful reminder that even in the wake of tragedy, hope and strength can prevail.