Topline: A high-profile murder trial is underway for Sarah Hartsfield, who allegedly used her husband’s diabetes to mask a fatal dose of insulin.
Published: October 1, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Left: Sarah Hartsfield (via Chambers County Sheriff’s Office) Right: Joseph Hartsfield (via Legacy.com)
ANAHUAC, TX — Jury selection has finished in the high-profile murder trial of Sarah Hartsfield, the Texas woman accused of killing her fifth husband with an insulin overdose in January 2023.
The 48-year-old is facing accusations that she murdered her husband, Joseph Hartsfield, but has pleaded not guilty. According to Fox News, the proceedings are the latest chapter in a case that has drawn nationwide attention, with the defendant held on a reduced bond of $2 million.
Prosecutors allege Hartsfield, an Army veteran, used her husband’s diabetes as a cover for homicide. They contend Hartsfield injected Joseph Hartsfield with lethal amounts of insulin until he was unresponsive.
Following the alleged overdose, prosecutors claim she delayed calling 911 for several hours. Joseph Hartsfield was ultimately taken to a hospital but died days later.
Investigators began questioning the circumstances of the death after multiple insulin pens were found near Joseph Hartsfield’s bedside. They also noted inconsistencies in statements Sarah Hartsfield gave regarding the incident.
“I appreciate the hard work of the deputies and detectives who followed their instincts and identified the suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr. Hartsfield’s death that could have been labeled as ‘death due to illness’ instead of murder,” Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said at the time of her arrest.
The Harris County Medical Examiner’s office later ruled the cause of death as complications from toxic insulin exposure.
In February 2023, a grand jury indictment was filed against Sarah Hartsfield. The indictment alleges she “intentionally and knowingly cause[d] the death of an individual, namely Joseph Hartsfield, by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury.”
The defense maintains Joseph Hartsfield’s death may have been a tragic complication of his own medical condition, arguing against the claim that his wife committed a deliberate act.
Part of the complexity of the case involves Sarah Hartsfield’s marital history. She has been married five times, with her most recent marriage to Joseph Hartsfield occurring in 2022.
Sarah Hartsfield’s first marriage was to her high school sweetheart, Titus Knoernschild. Knoernschild told ABC13 Houston that the relationship quickly failed after they married young. During their separation, she threatened him, warning him not to be surprised if he did not survive their divorce.
The couple divorced by 1995, but Knoernschild reported that she continued to harass him for years afterward. He said she showed up at his Fort Hood office in 2008, forcing him to obtain a no-contact order.
In the mid-1990s, she married her second husband. ABC13 reported that Sarah Hartsfield was arrested in March 1996 for allegedly assaulting him during a dispute at their Rio Bonito home. The charge was dropped after a week.
By the late 1990s, she remarried again, and her third marriage ended in divorce in 2018.
Hartsfield then became engaged to David Bragg in Minnesota. Hartsfield shot and killed Bragg in his home on May 9, 2018. She told investigators at the time that he fired at her and that she returned fire. Prosecutors for Douglas County, Minnesota, ruled the killing a justifiable act of self-defense, according to FOX9 Minneapolis.
Hartsfield married her fourth husband around 2019, not long after Bragg’s death. That marriage also resulted in divorce by 2021.
Hartsfield married her fifth husband, Joseph Hartsfield, in 2022. Friends and neighbors told the local outlet Click2Houston that he was unhappy in the marriage and had been making plans to leave. On January 7, 2023, Joseph Hartsfield was found unresponsive after a diabetic emergency.
Prosecutors allege Hartsfield ignored alerts related to Joseph Hartsfield’s low blood sugar. After finding him unresponsive, they claim she delayed calling 911 for several hours.
While he was hospitalized, Joseph Hartsfield’s family members said she attempted to keep them away from him. She also posted a video on Facebook that showed her weeping over his hospital bed.
In February 2023, authorities arrested and indicted Hartsfield for the murder of Joseph Hartsfield.
Prosecutors have listed over 80 potential witnesses for the trial. They also plan to introduce allegations of Hartsfield’s misconduct in jail, including claims that she assaulted a fellow inmate, tampered with her son who is a witness, and lied about having breast cancer.
According to Fox 26 Houston, a jury of eight men and four women has been selected for Hartsfield’s trial. Opening statements begin on September 30 and will be limited to 30 minutes.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Texas Woman Accused of Murdering Fifth Husband With Insulin Faces Jury Trial
A high-profile murder trial is underway for Sarah Hartsfield, who allegedly used her husband’s diabetes to mask a fatal dose of insulin.
By Kate Byrd
Published: October 1, 2025 8:00 am ET
Left: Sarah Hartsfield (via Chambers County Sheriff’s Office) Right: Joseph Hartsfield (via Legacy.com)
ANAHUAC, TX — Jury selection has finished in the high-profile murder trial of Sarah Hartsfield, the Texas woman accused of killing her fifth husband with an insulin overdose in January 2023.
The 48-year-old is facing accusations that she murdered her husband, Joseph Hartsfield, but has pleaded not guilty. According to Fox News, the proceedings are the latest chapter in a case that has drawn nationwide attention, with the defendant held on a reduced bond of $2 million.
Prosecutors allege Hartsfield, an Army veteran, used her husband’s diabetes as a cover for homicide. They contend Hartsfield injected Joseph Hartsfield with lethal amounts of insulin until he was unresponsive.
Following the alleged overdose, prosecutors claim she delayed calling 911 for several hours. Joseph Hartsfield was ultimately taken to a hospital but died days later.
Investigators began questioning the circumstances of the death after multiple insulin pens were found near Joseph Hartsfield’s bedside. They also noted inconsistencies in statements Sarah Hartsfield gave regarding the incident.
“I appreciate the hard work of the deputies and detectives who followed their instincts and identified the suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr. Hartsfield’s death that could have been labeled as ‘death due to illness’ instead of murder,” Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said at the time of her arrest.
The Harris County Medical Examiner’s office later ruled the cause of death as complications from toxic insulin exposure.
In February 2023, a grand jury indictment was filed against Sarah Hartsfield. The indictment alleges she “intentionally and knowingly cause[d] the death of an individual, namely Joseph Hartsfield, by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury.”
The defense maintains Joseph Hartsfield’s death may have been a tragic complication of his own medical condition, arguing against the claim that his wife committed a deliberate act.
Part of the complexity of the case involves Sarah Hartsfield’s marital history. She has been married five times, with her most recent marriage to Joseph Hartsfield occurring in 2022.
Sarah Hartsfield’s first marriage was to her high school sweetheart, Titus Knoernschild. Knoernschild told ABC13 Houston that the relationship quickly failed after they married young. During their separation, she threatened him, warning him not to be surprised if he did not survive their divorce.
The couple divorced by 1995, but Knoernschild reported that she continued to harass him for years afterward. He said she showed up at his Fort Hood office in 2008, forcing him to obtain a no-contact order.
In the mid-1990s, she married her second husband. ABC13 reported that Sarah Hartsfield was arrested in March 1996 for allegedly assaulting him during a dispute at their Rio Bonito home. The charge was dropped after a week.
By the late 1990s, she remarried again, and her third marriage ended in divorce in 2018.
Hartsfield then became engaged to David Bragg in Minnesota. Hartsfield shot and killed Bragg in his home on May 9, 2018. She told investigators at the time that he fired at her and that she returned fire. Prosecutors for Douglas County, Minnesota, ruled the killing a justifiable act of self-defense, according to FOX9 Minneapolis.
Hartsfield married her fourth husband around 2019, not long after Bragg’s death. That marriage also resulted in divorce by 2021.
Hartsfield married her fifth husband, Joseph Hartsfield, in 2022. Friends and neighbors told the local outlet Click2Houston that he was unhappy in the marriage and had been making plans to leave. On January 7, 2023, Joseph Hartsfield was found unresponsive after a diabetic emergency.
Prosecutors allege Hartsfield ignored alerts related to Joseph Hartsfield’s low blood sugar. After finding him unresponsive, they claim she delayed calling 911 for several hours.
While he was hospitalized, Joseph Hartsfield’s family members said she attempted to keep them away from him. She also posted a video on Facebook that showed her weeping over his hospital bed.
In February 2023, authorities arrested and indicted Hartsfield for the murder of Joseph Hartsfield.
Prosecutors have listed over 80 potential witnesses for the trial. They also plan to introduce allegations of Hartsfield’s misconduct in jail, including claims that she assaulted a fellow inmate, tampered with her son who is a witness, and lied about having breast cancer.
According to Fox 26 Houston, a jury of eight men and four women has been selected for Hartsfield’s trial. Opening statements begin on September 30 and will be limited to 30 minutes.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Texas Woman Accused of Murdering Fifth Husband With Insulin Faces Jury Trial
A high-profile murder trial is underway for Sarah Hartsfield, who allegedly used her husband’s diabetes to mask a fatal dose of insulin.
By Kate Byrd
Published: October 1, 2025 8:00 am ET
Left: Sarah Hartsfield (via Chambers County Sheriff’s Office) Right: Joseph Hartsfield (via Legacy.com)
ANAHUAC, TX — Jury selection has finished in the high-profile murder trial of Sarah Hartsfield, the Texas woman accused of killing her fifth husband with an insulin overdose in January 2023.
The 48-year-old is facing accusations that she murdered her husband, Joseph Hartsfield, but has pleaded not guilty. According to Fox News, the proceedings are the latest chapter in a case that has drawn nationwide attention, with the defendant held on a reduced bond of $2 million.
Prosecutors allege Hartsfield, an Army veteran, used her husband’s diabetes as a cover for homicide. They contend Hartsfield injected Joseph Hartsfield with lethal amounts of insulin until he was unresponsive.
Following the alleged overdose, prosecutors claim she delayed calling 911 for several hours. Joseph Hartsfield was ultimately taken to a hospital but died days later.
Investigators began questioning the circumstances of the death after multiple insulin pens were found near Joseph Hartsfield’s bedside. They also noted inconsistencies in statements Sarah Hartsfield gave regarding the incident.
“I appreciate the hard work of the deputies and detectives who followed their instincts and identified the suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr. Hartsfield’s death that could have been labeled as ‘death due to illness’ instead of murder,” Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said at the time of her arrest.
The Harris County Medical Examiner’s office later ruled the cause of death as complications from toxic insulin exposure.
In February 2023, a grand jury indictment was filed against Sarah Hartsfield. The indictment alleges she “intentionally and knowingly cause[d] the death of an individual, namely Joseph Hartsfield, by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury.”
The defense maintains Joseph Hartsfield’s death may have been a tragic complication of his own medical condition, arguing against the claim that his wife committed a deliberate act.
Part of the complexity of the case involves Sarah Hartsfield’s marital history. She has been married five times, with her most recent marriage to Joseph Hartsfield occurring in 2022.
Sarah Hartsfield’s first marriage was to her high school sweetheart, Titus Knoernschild. Knoernschild told ABC13 Houston that the relationship quickly failed after they married young. During their separation, she threatened him, warning him not to be surprised if he did not survive their divorce.
The couple divorced by 1995, but Knoernschild reported that she continued to harass him for years afterward. He said she showed up at his Fort Hood office in 2008, forcing him to obtain a no-contact order.
In the mid-1990s, she married her second husband. ABC13 reported that Sarah Hartsfield was arrested in March 1996 for allegedly assaulting him during a dispute at their Rio Bonito home. The charge was dropped after a week.
By the late 1990s, she remarried again, and her third marriage ended in divorce in 2018.
Hartsfield then became engaged to David Bragg in Minnesota. Hartsfield shot and killed Bragg in his home on May 9, 2018. She told investigators at the time that he fired at her and that she returned fire. Prosecutors for Douglas County, Minnesota, ruled the killing a justifiable act of self-defense, according to FOX9 Minneapolis.
Hartsfield married her fourth husband around 2019, not long after Bragg’s death. That marriage also resulted in divorce by 2021.
Hartsfield married her fifth husband, Joseph Hartsfield, in 2022. Friends and neighbors told the local outlet Click2Houston that he was unhappy in the marriage and had been making plans to leave. On January 7, 2023, Joseph Hartsfield was found unresponsive after a diabetic emergency.
Prosecutors allege Hartsfield ignored alerts related to Joseph Hartsfield’s low blood sugar. After finding him unresponsive, they claim she delayed calling 911 for several hours.
While he was hospitalized, Joseph Hartsfield’s family members said she attempted to keep them away from him. She also posted a video on Facebook that showed her weeping over his hospital bed.
In February 2023, authorities arrested and indicted Hartsfield for the murder of Joseph Hartsfield.
Prosecutors have listed over 80 potential witnesses for the trial. They also plan to introduce allegations of Hartsfield’s misconduct in jail, including claims that she assaulted a fellow inmate, tampered with her son who is a witness, and lied about having breast cancer.
According to Fox 26 Houston, a jury of eight men and four women has been selected for Hartsfield’s trial. Opening statements begin on September 30 and will be limited to 30 minutes.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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