Houston Oncologist Accused Of Poisoning Boyfriend With Antifreeze
Maybe she was a really big fan of Heathers?
A Houston oncologist is being accused of trying to poison her lover with antifreeze-laced coffee. The Houston Chronicle reports that 42-year-old Dr. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo allegedly poisoned fellow doctor Dr. George Blumenschein, with whom she was enjoying (or not enjoying?) a casual sexual relationship.
In January, Gonzalez-Angulo reportedly served the laced coffee to Blumenschein, who grew suspicious because his "black coffee" was sweet. He asked her for a new cup, and in a not at all creepy or giveaway move, Gonzalez-Angulo told him it was Splenda and that he should drink the rest of it. She then served him a second cup. [Did we learn nothing from Snow White? Do not eat the apple.]
Within four hours of drinking the coffee, Blumenschein began suffering slurred speech, poor balance and loss of fine motor skills. Twelve hours later, Blumenschein ended up in the ER with central nervous system depression, cardiopulmonary complications and renal failure. He also had to undergo dialysis.
Prosecutors say the coffee sweetener was not Splenda, but ethylene glycol, a sweet-tasting toxin found in antifreeze and in the M.D. Anderson laboratories, where Gonzalez-Angulo would have had access to it. The toxin did not show up on Blumenschein's toxicology reports, but crystals consistent with the toxin were found in a 24-hour urine test. The complaint also cites a county toxicologist who noted that any ethylene glycol would have been metabolized by the time Blumenschein was assessed.
Gonzalez-Angulo is being charged with aggravated assault and had to forfeit her passport, but her attorney is telling the press that his client is completely innocent. It's not immediately clear what her alleged motive was.
