Florida man accused of mailing peanut butter-covered card to woman with deadly allergy, police say

CBS News ^ | 11/14/2026 | Sergio Candido

[simpson96]

A South Florida man was arrested after police said he deliberately mailed a greeting card smeared with peanut butter to a woman with a severe peanut allergy, allegedly putting her life at risk.

Joseph Gerard Cancellare, 68, was arrested on Nov. 13 and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and culpable negligence exposing another person to harm, according to a Plantation Police Department probable cause affidavit.

Investigators said Cancellare knew the woman personally, was well aware of her potentially life-threatening allergy and intentionally exposed her to peanut butter. The affidavit indicates that the alleged motive involved a contentious divorce between Cancellare and his wife, with the alleged victim being a longtime acquaintance of Cancellare, not his spouse.

The incident happened Aug. 14, 2025, when the woman returned home from work and noticed a blue envelope in her driveway, according to arrest documents.

The envelope appeared greasy and had unfamiliar handwriting. It was addressed to her using an address associated with her previous residence.

When she opened it, she discovered a greeting card containing a brown substance spread across the inside. She immediately recognized the substance as peanut butter, dropped the envelope, called for help and ran inside to wash her hands.

The woman told investigators she developed hives on both arms and experienced a tingling sensation that lasted approximately six hours.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: florida; floridaman; josephgcancellare

[simpson96]

FTA:

How investigators traced the envelope to Cancellare

Plantation police contacted a U.S. postal inspector, who helped trace two Forever stamps attached to the envelope to a self-service kiosk at the Davie Post Office on South University Drive.

According to the affidavit, investigators used a 15-digit code printed on the stamps to identify the machine and transaction used to purchase them.

The stamps had been purchased Aug. 8, 2025, using a Visa card, police said. The kiosk also photographed the person purchasing the stamps, providing investigators with an image they later used to identify a suspect.

Police said the Visa card used in the transaction belonged to Cancellare.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Amazing police work, but rather intrusive. I’m surprised a Flock license plate reader isn’t in the mix.

“15-digit code printed on the stamps to identify the machine and transaction used to purchase them.” — I’ve never seen a code on stamps. Invisible ink? Steganography?

[Inyo-Mono]

I’m glad the woman is ok, but the technology used to capture the bad guy is creepy, track numbers on stamps?

[simpson96]

Yes, interesting. Never would have guessed stamps have some invisible-ink type 15-digit code on them. Apparently, wherever you buy your stamps, or mail a letter paying for postage at the counter, the stamps used can be combined with video surveillance footage to identify you.

[gundog]

I’ve got some untraceable .02 stamps. I ‘ll let ‘em go for a buck apiece.

[simpson96]

Lol. Yep, one could just buy “old” collector stamps cheaply, and use those.

[gundog]

It’s fool-proof. Damn shame I don’t know anyone with a peanut allergy that I want to kill.

[Getready]

This ain’t our grandpa’s technology no more. They probably could get a sample of perps dna if he handled the stamps with bare hands. Surprised perps cannot print their own stamps...wonder what optical scanable codes are on stamps.

[gundog]

At least it wasn’t tbe peanuts. I think there was a “Matlock” with a nut allergy murder plot.

[Inyo-Mono]

I’ve got some untraceable .02 stamps. I ‘ll let ‘em go for a buck apiece.

I can still remember as a youngster, the outrage expressed by adults when first class stamps went up in price to to 6¢ each.

[gundog]

One of my grandmothdrs always wrote “postage protested” near the stamp.