A 61-year-old Brazilian woman, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, is under investigation after baking a Christmas cake that allegedly caused the deaths of her two sisters and a niece.
The festive meal, prepared on December 23 in Torres, Brazil, turned tragic when Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, and Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, died within 24 hours of consuming the cake.
Three other relatives, including Zeli and a 10-year-old boy, were hospitalised after falling seriously ill.
Authorities suspect arsenic poisoning after traces of the substance were reportedly found in the bodies of the deceased. Investigators are now focusing on Zeli’s household, where expired food products, including year-old mayonnaise, were discovered.
A mysterious liquid, found in a medicine bottle where capsules were missing, is also being analyzed for potential toxins.
The investigation has broadened to include Zeli’s late husband, Paolo Luiz, who reportedly died of food poisoning in September. Police plan to exhume his body for further examination.
Lead investigator Marcos Vinicius Veloso confirmed no evidence of inheritance disputes or conflicts within the family.
Tatiana and Maida suffered cardiac arrests, while Neuza’s death was attributed to “shock after food poisoning.” Zeli and the 10-year-old boy remain in stable condition, while a sixth family member, believed to be Maida’s husband, has been discharged from the hospital.
The tragic incident has shocked the local community as police continue to investigate the cause of the poisonings.
