 Green married Michael Farrar in 1979 while practicing as an emergency physician . The marriage was tumultuous , and Farrar filed for divorce in July 1995 . Between August and September 1995 , Farrar repeatedly fell violently ill , and despite numerous hospitalizations his doctors could not pinpoint the source of his illness . Green 's emotional stability deteriorated and she began to drink heavily , even while supervising her children . On October 24 , 1995 , the Farrar family home , occupied by Green and the couple 's three children , caught fire . Kate Farrar and Debora Green escaped without harm , but despite the efforts of firefighters , Timothy and Kelly Farrar died in the blaze . Investigation showed that trails of accelerant in the house led back to Green 's bedroom , and that the source of Michael Farrar 's intractable illness had been ricin , a poison served to him in his food by Green . 
