Not-So-Sweet Tea: Florida Woman Arrested for Allegedly Poisoning Boyfriend’s Drink

As I'm sitting in my backyard in Cape Coral, there's nothing  like enjoying a nice sweet tea. Because here in southwest Florida, we take our sweet tea seriously. And let me tell ya, nobody makes it better than my wife Katie. I always know it's gonna be the good stuff when I see her stirring that glass. But after hearing about this crazy Florida woman story today, it's got me thinking. I better show my appreciation for this sweet tea and the woman who makes it. You never know what could happen, right?

According to Fox News, Ivette Diaz is being accused of making the worst drink ever. She supposedly slipped a bleach tablet into her boyfriend's tea! Nothing sweet about that! The whole thing  went down just after Valentines day on February 20th. Because nothing says "I love you" like poison in you drink. This poor dude was just  making himself some grub and a nice cup of tea, when he had to step out for a phone call.

Now, when the guy comes back inside and offers Diaz a taste of his food, she takes a bite and complains it's too spicy.  But then, get this, when he offers her his tea, she flat out refuses. Who doesn't wash down all that heat with some tea?  After so much spice? That's weird.

So, he takes a big swig of his tea, and bam! His throat's on fire. And guess what? His cup reeks of bleach. Like a LOT of bleach. That's when he dumps it out and finds a leftover bleach tablet floating around! So, he's like, "Did you put bleach in my drink?" And Diaz? She tries saying she thought it was sugar. But have you ever found a bleach tablet in a bag of sugar? Come on!

Poor guy ends up in the hospital, but thankfully, he's going to be alright. As for the tea tampering girlfriend? Diaz got into some BIG trouble. We're talking first degree domestic violence for poisoning food or water. Oh, and she's stuck in jail with no bail. If you don't mind me, I'm going to tell my wife how wonderful she is and tell her she never has to make me sweet tea ever again.

Being in a relationship isn't always easy. First, there's that honeymoon phase where the other person can do no wrong. You might even think some of their quirks, like how they make a funny sound when they sip coffee, are cute at first. Then, a few months later, you might think those same quirks are super annoying. But, if there's love, then, in a perfect world, that relationship should always be able to work. Sometimes, though, it doesn't work. Sometimes couples decide to part ways. So, what are the most common reasons people end a relationship?

Before we reasons why people end their relationship, let's get into some stats. According to Forbes.com, both marriage and divorce rates have gone down over time. Forbes.com states that in 2000, roughly 944,000 divorces and annulments happened, and the crude divorce rate was 4.00 per population during that year. But, by 2021, that crude divorce rate had fallen to 2.5 per 1,000 population. Also, in 2021, only 689,308 people divorced, so much less than the 944,000 in 2000. So, the fact that the divorce rate is going down is a good thing. But, it's partly because people aren't getting married as much. The marriage rate, according to the Forbes.com article, declined from 8.2 per population in 2000 to 6.00 per population in 2021. So, when do couples divorce? They say "the average length of a marriage prior to divorce is eight years."

What's interesting is that even from just year-to-year, marriage rates seem to be going down. According to Worldpopulationreview.com, "between 2018 and 2019, the number of marriages dropped significantly, by about 5.5 percent." If you're curious, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, "Alaska and Utah had among the highest marriage rates, at 23.5 and 22.3, respectively." Also, "Puerto Rico had among the lowest marriage and divorce rates" and "Massachusetts had a marriage rate of 11.8, also among the nation's lowest." Now, let's get into the most common reasons people end a relationship, not just marriages.

According to Heysigmund.com, "Studies have shown that the love and passion that comes with the initial boost of marriage wears off after two years, which is why the best relationships are the ones that have genuine friendship at their core." It makes sense. You can't just be physically attracted to your partner. You have to actually like them as a person, too, and enjoy their company. You have to be friends, too.

This is a big one. Bestlifeonline.com notes that, "...if one partner has a blatant disrespect for the other's life choices, neither partner will ever feel comfortable talking about their day, let alone their feelings or beliefs." That's really true. You have to respect the other person and let them know that you care and respect them, or else the relationship could hit some really rocky roads.

Trust is a huge thing in a relationship. The more serious a relationship gets, the more trust is important, too. That's why it can make or break a relationship in those later years. "One of the foundational feelings necessary in a good relationship is a feeling of security," Verywellmind.com says. "If you lack emotional support or find your partner unreliable, you might lose trust."

We've all been there. Everything was so great at first, that you went from a first date to, "Here's my mom and dad." Maybe you rushed into a relationship as a rebound, or maybe it was filling a void in your life. Either way, going into a relationship too fast is often a reason people break it off.

I've seen this happen before. Sometimes, it's life that causes friction in the relationship, not the relationship at all. If someone is going through a really hard time or dealing with a shocking loss, sometimes, they can decide to just step away from everything, including their relationship. It can be anything from a big move to a death. "A big and unexpected life event, like the death of a parent or a sudden job layoff, can shake a relationship to its core," states Bestlifeonline.com. They add, "And, oftentimes, these life-changing moments will result in other major changes that many relationships struggle to survive."

You totally have to be able to communicate with your partner. They can't read your mind. The people who don't communicate well are often those who find themselves having trouble in relationships. "Numerous studies have identified communication (or a lack thereof) as one of the top reasons for couples seek therapy, as well as one of the top reasons for break-ups and divorces," Delraybeachpsychiatrist.com says.

Even if you're been in a relationship for a long time, a simple "thank you so much" means a lot. Always make sure to let your partner know how much you appreciate the little, and big, things. It goes a long way. Not being grateful could even lead to a breakup.

Arguing about money is really common in relationships. It's also a big reason why some couples can't make it work. Maybe your partner loves to spend money on luxuries, and you're a penny-pinching type. That's an issue. "Differences over money is one of the top reasons for marital dissolution. But a couple also doesn’t need to be married to have money challenges," Delraybeachpsychiatrist.com says.