Authorities in Torres, Brazil, are investigating a chilling case involving a Christmas cake allegedly baked with poison, which led to the deaths of three women and left several others hospitalised
Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, prepared the festive cake for a family gathering on December 23.
Tragically, her sisters Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos, 65, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, along with her niece, Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, died within 24 hours of consuming the treat.
Three other family members, including Zeli herself and a 10-year-old boy, were rushed to the hospital after experiencing severe symptoms.
Brazil’s Civil Police have confirmed that traces of arsenic, a known poison, were detected in the victims’ bodies. To further probe the case, investigators are exhuming the body of Zeli’s late husband, Paolo Luiz, who reportedly died of food poisoning in September.
Police have also conducted searches of Zeli’s home, uncovering expired food items, including a bottle of liquid medicine that appeared tampered with. “There were expired products in the residence,” said a police statement to Globo. “A medicine bottle was found with a white liquid inside, which is being analyzed.”
Zeli, who remains hospitalized, reportedly told officers where she purchased the cake’s ingredients.
She ate two slices herself and was the first to fall ill. Her niece, Tatiana, and sister, Maida, died of cardiac arrest, while Neuza succumbed to shock induced by food poisoning, according to medical reports.
Two other family members—a 10-year-old boy and a man believed to be Maida’s husband—were also hospitalized. The boy remains in stable condition, while the man has been discharged.
Investigators are interviewing neighbors and scrutinizing the family’s history for any potential conflicts or inheritance disputes but have found no evidence of animosity among the relatives.
As the investigation continues, police are focusing on the cake’s ingredients and any possible tampering.
Marcos Vinicius Veloso, the lead investigator, emphasised the complexity of the case, stating that they are leaving no stone unturned in determining how this tragic poisoning unfolded.
Zeli and her family’s heartbreaking Christmas gathering has left the community in shock, raising questions about trust and safety within the home. Further updates are expected as forensic analysis provides more answers.
