As police confirm the dead husband of a woman who baked a suspected ‘arsenic’ cake will be dug up, here’s everything we know of the tragedy that killed three family members
A dead husband will be exhumed as part of a chilling police probe into his wife’s Christmas cake. The cake was allegedly laced with arsenic and killed three family members.
Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos’ husband, Paulo Luiz, who died in September of food poisoning, will be dug up after Zeli’s sisters Maida, 58, Neuza, 65, and Neuza’s daughter Tatiana, 43, died after eating the traditional Brazilian festive cake Zeli baked on December 23. After Maida and Tatiana died on the day, and Neuza on Christmas eve, all three women were found to have traces of arsenic in their system.
Three other relatives, including Zeli and a 10-year-old boy, understood to be Tatiana’s son, were also hospitalised after falling ill in Torres, a coastal town in southern Brazil. Local police have launched an investigation, and have confirmed that Zeli, who remains under medical care, hasn’t been arrested or charged.
The police issued a statement on local outlet Globo, which said: “We opened a police investigation and we are going to exhume this man’s body to check whether there was also poisoning. We even have information that there was mayonnaise there that had expired a year ago.
“There were expired products in the residence. A bottle was found, a medicine, which should have had capsules inside it and there were no capsules – there was a white liquid and this white liquid will also be examined.”
Seven members of the family were struck by tragedy after eating the Christmas cake at Zeli’s home on December 23. One family member, who hasn’t been named, did not eat the cake, reports the Mirror.
Blood tests later revealed that some of the victims had arsenic in their systems, a deadly toxin known for causing severe gastrointestinal distress. The police suspect poisoning, but are yet to confirm.
The local press reports Zeli’s niece Tatiana and Maida both succumbed to fatal heart attacks, while Neuza died from “shock after food poisoning”. Zeli, who is said to have eaten two slices of the cake, remains in hospital in hospital in a stable condition. The young boy is also reported to be in a stable condition.
Heartfelt tributes have been flooding in for Maida, remembered fondly as a dedicated teacher. In a touching tribute, one colleague wrote: “She was my colleague, she is my friend and my sweetheart! To be special and much loved by us all! ! It’s unbelievable… strength to all of us, friends and family.”
The tight-knit community of Torres, a city famed for its stunning sandy beaches and tourist appeal, is expected to see neighbours and friends interviewed by authorities soon, sources say.
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