An Iowa woman has been charged with trying to poison her husband by putting eye drops in his drink.
Daisy Anne Zantjer, 39, was arrested last Tuesday and charged with two counts of administering a noxious substance and two counts of domestic abuse, battery or mental illness. KCCI 8News, CBS affiliate reported.
Zantjer reportedly spiked her husband’s drink at least twice in July 2023 with tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant used in eye drops that helps relieve itchy, red eyes but is toxic if ingested.
Her husband, whose name is listed in the documents as Allan Zantjer, survived but had to be taken to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. He had contacted the Pleasantville Police Department to admit his suspicions that his wife was poisoning him.
Zantjer remains behind bars on $12,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday. WHO News 13 reported.
Daisy Anne Zantjer, 39, was arrested last Tuesday and charged with two counts of administering a noxious substance and two counts of domestic abuse, battery or mental illness.
Zantjer poses with her husband in November 2023. She had been accused of lacing her husband’s drink with tetrahydrozoline, a dangerous chemical used in eye drops.
Tetrahydrozoline is used in common brands such as Visine and Visine AC and works by “temporarily narrowing the blood vessels in the eye.” WebMD fixed.
The WebMD website states that medications containing this ingredient should not be used for more than three or four days at a time.
The National Center for Poisoning in the Capital explains the dangers of ingesting eye drops. If ingested in large quantities, they can cause low blood pressure, drowsiness and a dangerously slow heart rate.
In addition, heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems may also occur.
Doctors warn people to keep eye drops out of the reach of small children and to call a poison control center immediately if they have been swallowed.
Pleasantville Police Chief Joe Mrstik told local CBS station KCCI 8News that “it’s a really sad case. This is a married couple and a woman with children.”
In a strange twist, Zantjer had posted several videos warning viewers about toxic chemicals in her products and sharing ways to live chemical-free.
In one clip, she is even seen pointing out the dangerous chemicals in a bottle of shampoo, according to her social media accounts.
In an October 2018 post, she wrote: ‘I am a Christian woman who wants to do right by her family and part of that is keeping them free from harmful chemicals and other toxins that could destroy their body.’
When DailyMail.com contacted Pleasantville Police Chief Mrstik on Monday, they were told he was not in the office and was also retired. Another person at the police department said they “could not release any information about the case.”
However, police confirmed that Law and crime that Zantjer, free of chemicals, appears to be the same woman who is behind bars for allegedly poisoning her husband.
Charging documents filed in Marion County District Court late last month confirm that Daisy’s husband’s name is Allan Zantjer.
‘Daisy Zantjer admitted during an interview to having administered a noxious substance, on two separate occasions, called tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride to her husband Allan Zantjer, in July 2023,’ according to the documents.
‘On the date and time stated above, the defendant, Daisy Zantjer, administered a noxious substance known as tetrahydrozoline to her husband, Allan Zantjer.’
Other details cite alleged domestic abuse: ‘On the date and time stated above, the defendant committed domestic battery upon Allan Zantjer, causing injury to him by giving him tetrahydrozoline in his drink without his knowledge.’
Charging documents were filed in Marion County on July 30.
The defendant committed domestic battery against Allan Zantjer, causing bodily injury, the charging document states.
The mother of two smiles for the camera as she enjoys a meal, according to her social media account.
She is seen kissing her husband Allan on their ninth wedding anniversary.
On her Facebook account, Zantjer often posted photos of herself at church and other important family events. One of the photos from 2019 shows the couple celebrating their anniversary.
“Happy anniversary to this wonderful man of mine,” she wrote. “Nine years of madness and counting. He captured a spontaneous moment of my lobster claws and cracked mussels.
‘I don’t normally wear makeup, but I made an exception for this one. The best part is that we rode my husband’s motorcycle back and forth. Love you, Allan!’
Saturday, August 3, marked their 14th wedding anniversary.
In 2020, Zantjer posted a photo of the smiling couple from 2008.
“What memories! Look at this handsome young man! I love this man to bits! He’s been there for me through thick and thin and I’m so thankful for that.”
He added: “Ten incredible years. I hope there will be many more to come.”