TAUNTON, Mass. (AP) – A registered nurse from Taunton has been arraigned on a murder charge for allegedly injecting her husband with a lethal dose of insulin three years ago.

Leona Mattson, 56, was released after posting $40,000 bail following her arraignment last week in Superior Court in New Bedford.

Mattson, on the board of directors of the Brockton Visiting Nurse Association, injected Alfred Mattson, 53, with insulin in May 2001 before calling 911 and reporting her husband had suffered a stroke, Bristol Assistant District Attorney Gerald FitzGerald told the Taunton Gazette. He died less than two weeks later.

Leona Mattson was charged after a lengthy investigation, FitzGerald said.

Alfred Mattson, who did not have diabetes, experienced violent and sudden surges in his blood sugar levels, FitzGerald said. Based on the opinion of medical experts, “there is no way that could have happened short of insulin injection,” he said.

Leona Mattson was the only person who saw her husband in the 30 hours before she called 911, FitzGerald said.

The newspaper was not able to reach Mattson or her attorney.

AP-ES-06-21-04 2127EDT