Porto Alegre, Brazil – A woman accused of murdering three family members by poisoning a Christmas cake with arsenic was found dead in her prison cell in Brazil.
Deise Moura dos Anjos, 42, was discovered lifeless by guards at the Guaiba jail, near Porto Alegre, early this morning. She was alone at the time, and authorities have since confirmed her death is being treated as a suicide.
Her death comes just a month after her arrest for allegedly poisoning six relatives, resulting in three deaths and three hospitalizations.
Arsenic-Laced Cake at Christmas Gathering
The suspected poisoning took place during a Christmas Eve family gathering, where relatives ate a cake baked by Deise’s mother-in-law, Zeli dos Anjos, 61. The flour used in the cake was later found to be contaminated with arsenic.
The victims included:
- Maida Bernice Flores da Silva, 58 (a teacher)
- Neuza Denize Silva Dos Anjos, 65
- Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43
They died within hours of consuming the cake.
Others affected included:
- Tatiana’s 10-year-old son, Matheus, who was placed in intensive care
- Maida’s husband, Jefferson, who needed hospital treatment
- Zeli dos Anjos, the cake’s baker, who was hospitalized but survived
Deise was arrested on January 6 and charged with three counts of murder and three attempted murders.
Forensic Investigation Confirmed Arsenic Poisoning
Following her arrest, forensic experts confirmed that arsenic poisoning was the cause of death.
Margaret Mittman, director of the Rio Grande do Sul General Forensic Institute, stated:
“The source of the arsenic poisoning was the cake eaten by the victims, and the flour found in Zeli’s house was the point of contamination.”
Toxicology reports revealed arsenic levels up to 350 times higher than naturally occurring amounts, with the deceased victims showing lethal concentrations in their urine, blood, and stomach contents.
Possible Link to Previous Death
Authorities were also investigating whether Deise was responsible for the death of her father-in-law, Paulo Luis dos Anjos, who died in September 2023 after consuming bananas mixed with powdered milk that she had given him.
Police Considered Her a ‘Serial Killer’
Police officials labeled Deise an alleged serial killer, asserting that strong evidence linked her to the crimes.
Marcus Vinicius Muniz Veloso, chief investigator, described the family dynamic before the tragedy:
“The family relationship was harmonious, but one person caused conflicts—and that was Deise. The disagreements dated back 20 years but were considered minor issues.”
Prison Death Investigation Underway
Following Deise’s sudden death in custody, prison authorities and police have launched separate investigations into the circumstances surrounding her apparent suicide.
