Hot Urine Plot Foiled: Man’s Heated Synthetic Urine Scheme Goes Awry

Marion, IL – Ever heard of warming up your coffee to perfection? One local man apparently thought the same trick would work on his urine too.

On Saturday, November 30, 2024 deputies at the Williamson County Jail discovered Joseph E. Poore’s ingenious—or shall we say, over-engineered—plan to beat a court-ordered drug test: a white plastic bottle of synthetic urine complete with a taped-on heating element snugged against his thigh. The goal? To keep the sample at body temperature and fool the lab technicians. The reality? A quick trip to the county lockup instead.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Poore arrived for a standard urinalysis screening when security noticed something unusual during the pat-down. Upon inspection, deputies found the heating element and bottle concealed inside Poore’s waistband, clearly intended to simulate real body heat. “It’s not every day you see a homemade incubator for fake pee,” quipped one patrol sergeant. The full KFVS12 report has the details.

Poore now faces charges of possession of adulterants and obstructing justice after jail staff confiscated the device and booked him into the Williamson County Jail. If nothing else, his arrest is a cautionary tale: when it comes to synthetic urine, hot tips are one thing—literally heating your sample is quite another.

When Innovation Meets Booking

While creative DIY solutions can be impressive—3D-printed gadgets, home brews, craft cocktails—this particular innovation was doomed. Most accredited drug-testing labs check sample temperature within seconds of receipt, and any bottle that doesn’t register between 90°F and 100°F often raises red flags. Poore’s taped-on element may have kept the liquid warm, but it also made for an obvious giveaway when deputies felt the wires and battery pack.

Beyond the courtroom implications, this incident highlights a broader trend: people resorting to all sorts of gadgets—from heating pads to belt-clip kits—to spoof urine tests. The sheriff’s office reminds everyone that tampering with a court-ordered test can carry severe penalties, and modern labs are increasingly sophisticated at spotting fakes.

For anyone researching their own options—legal and otherwise—our Synthetic Urine Guide covers what makes a realistic sample, common pitfalls, and best practices if you’re considering a synthetic product for legitimate uses (think: lab calibration or novelty applications).