Kourtney N. Stevenson was arrested after doorbell-camera footage allegedly showed her spraying a substance toward a DoorDash delivery in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. The recipients experienced burning sensations and vomiting after eating the food. Stevenson told police she sprayed at a spider, but investigators noted temperatures that night (about 35°F) make outdoor spiders unlikely to be active. She faces felony charges for battery and consumer product tampering and has been terminated by DoorDash.
Viral Doorbell Video Shows Alleged Pepper-Spray on DoorDash Order — Driver Arrested on Felony Charges
DoorDash driver charged with felony food tampering after alleged pepper spray incident goes viral
A Kentucky woman has been arrested after doorbell-camera footage appeared to show her spraying an unknown substance toward a delivered DoorDash order in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. The married recipients reported painful burning sensations and subsequently vomited after eating the food, and the incident quickly drew national attention online.
What Happened
Authorities identified the delivery driver as Kourtney N. Stevenson. McCracken County (Ky.) and Vanderburgh County (Ind.) law enforcement officials say footage from a Dec. 7 delivery shows the driver leave the package, take a photo of the order, then spray a substance in the direction of the food before walking away.
Victims' Symptoms and Investigation
The customers, identified as Mark Cardin and his wife, reported burning sensations in their mouths, noses, throats and stomachs, and both vomited shortly after consuming the meal, local station 14 News and Vanderburgh County investigators said. After reviewing the doorbell-camera video, the couple contacted authorities.
Records from DoorDash confirmed the driver was Stevenson, authorities said.
“Residents should be able to trust that the food they order for their families is safe,” Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson said. “When someone violates that trust and endangers others, we will respond with urgency, and we will pursue charges.”
Suspect's Explanation and Police Findings
When detectives contacted Stevenson, she told them she had used pepper spray to fend off a spider she claimed to have seen during the delivery and did not intend to spray the food. Investigators questioned that account, noting the overnight low was about 35°F — a temperature at which outdoor spiders in Indiana are generally inactive, the sheriff’s office said.
Charges, Detention and Employment Status
Stevenson faces multiple felony counts in Vanderburgh County: two level-6 felony counts of battery resulting in moderate injury and two level-5 felony counts of consumer product tampering, according to a news release by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. She was being held without bond pending extradition to Indiana; the arrest warrant lists a $3,500 cash bond. DoorDash confirmed it terminated Stevenson’s account after records verified she made the delivery.
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office provided details of the investigation to the public. Fox News Digital and local outlets reported on the case; Bonny Chu contributed to the coverage.
