The suspect has been charged with two counts of administering harmful substances and two counts of domestic abuse
Marion County Sheriff’s Department
An Iowa woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to poison her husband.
Daisy Zantjer, 39, from Pleasantville, Iowa, has been accused of putting eye drops in her husband’s drink on two separate occasions in July 2023, according to local CBS-affiliate KCCI and NBC-affiliate WHO-13.
She has been charged with two counts of administering harmful substances and two counts of domestic abuse, per the outlets.
WHO-13 reports that the Pleasantville Police Department were alerted to the alleged poisoning by the husband.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the police department began an investigation into the reported poisoning which led to Zantjer’s arrest on July 30, according to a press release.
According to KCCI, the victim is alive but was taken to the hospital at the time for symptoms including breathing troubles.
A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 8.
The eyedrops used in the alleged poisoning contained the active ingredient tetrahydrozoline, according to KCCI, which is commonly used to relieve redness in the eyes. WebMD states that the drug works by “temporarily narrowing the blood vessels in the eye.”
According to the website, the medication is not to be used for longer than three to four days at a time, when administered correctly. It should also be kept out of reach from children and pets.
Poison Control states that when tetrahydrozoline is digested it can cause sleepiness, low blood pressure and a “dangerously slow heart rate.”
Teenagers and adults who consume large amounts of the drug can experience life-threatening symptoms, the organization added.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
