Harvey Updyke, the infamous poisoner of Toomer’s Oaks, has passed away of natural causes in Louisiana at the age of 71, according to AL.com, who spoke to his son Bear Updyke.
The elder Updyke made national headlines on January 27, 2011 when he announced to Paul Finebaum on live radio that he had poisoned Toomer’s Oaks following the Tigers 28-27 come-from-behind victory over Alabama during the 2010 Iron Bowl.
“Let me tell you what I did,” Updyke told Finebaum on live radio in 2011. “The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn because I lived 30 miles away, and I poisoned the two Toomer’s trees. I put Spike 80DF in ‘em. They’re not dead yet, but they definitely will die.”
The phone call was tracked and Updyke was arrested.
Updyke pleaded guilty to a felony charge of criminal damage of an agricultural facility in 2013. He spent more than 70 days in jail and was ordered to pay $800,000 in restitution; however, reports indicate that Updyke had paid less than $7,000 total of it by last October.
Efforts were made to save the oaks at Toomer’s Corner, but they were unsuccessful. The trees had to be replaced.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
