MUGSHOT OF THE MONTH

Tina Vazquez is 33 and in love. Too bad Ms. Vasquez's beau is currently married to Angie Hausler.

Cops say Vasquez came up with a novel solution to her love problem -- she allegedly poisoned Hausler with sodium nitrite.

All of this happened in Bonne Terre. The Daily Journal updates:

“Tina Vazquez allegedly gave Ms. Hausler two capsules which she believed to be the antibiotic amoxicillin,” said St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock. “The pills contained sodium nitrite. Shortly after taking the pills, Ms. Hausler collapsed and was taken to a local hospital. She was later transferred to St. John's Mercy Center in St. Louis.

Invesigators said the hospital determined that Ms. Hausler was given a toxic substance. “The hospital couldn't identify what the toxic substance was,” said Lt. Greg Armstrong of the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department. “The hospital questioned both Mr. and Mrs. Hausler to try to determine what the substance was. Mrs. Hausler said she had taken an amoxicillin pill that a friend had given her on Saturday morning. The hospital asked if she had anymore of the pills. She said yes there is still one more at home.”

Armstrong said Mr. Hausler was sent home to retrieve the second pill. When the pill was tested, it was not amoxicllin.

“Mr. Hausler then contacted the suspect and questioned her about the pills,” Armstrong said. “The suspect told him (Hausler) that he didn't want to know what was in the pills. He said yes I do and she went on to tell him that it was sodium nitrite.”

Bullock said Mr. Hausler contacted the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department late Sunday evening to report what had taken place. “We have interviewed Mr. Hausler and have arrested Ms. Vazquez,” Bullock said. “She has been charged with assault in the first degree and is in jail on a $60,000 bond.”

Bullock said sodium nitrite is used in curing meats, but it is diluted.

“Ms. Hausler was given pure sodium nitrite which can be fatal,” Bullock said. “She has been administered the antidote and is in stable condition.”

Click on the link to discover a marvelous mugshot.