In a tragic twist to what should have been a joyful holiday gathering, police in Brazil have arrested the daughter-in-law of a woman whose homemade Christmas cake allegedly killed three family members. Deise Moura, 39, faces charges of triple homicide and triple attempted homicide following the shocking deaths.
The festive dessert, a traditional “Bolo de Natal,” was prepared by 61-year-old Zeli Dos Anjos for a family coffee afternoon in Torres, near Porto Alegre, on December 23. The celebration turned deadly as Maida Bernice Flores da Silva, 58, Neuza Denize Silva Dos Anjos, 65, and Neuza’s daughter, Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43, all died within hours of consuming the cake, told CBS News.
Zeli Dos Anjos herself remains hospitalized two weeks after the incident, while her 10-year-old great-nephew Matheus has recovered and been discharged. In a grim revelation, traces of arsenic were found in the victims’ bodies, prompting police to arrest Moura, who is married to Zeli’s son, Diego.
Torres police chief Marcus Vinicius Veloso confirmed Moura’s arrest, stating, “The woman was arrested for triple homicide and a triple attempted homicide. She was taken initially to a police station at Canoas, then to Torres police station, and is now in the women’s jail in the city. At this moment, we cannot say anything else.”
Investigators believe Zeli prepared the fatal cake at her residence before bringing it to the family gathering. Authorities have seized several items from her coastal home, including dried fruit, flour, and pesticides. While the investigation is ongoing, initial findings confirmed arsenic poisoning in the victims’ blood, reported CNN.
Police are also reopening another case tied to the family. They plan to exhume the remains of Zeli’s former husband, Paulo Luis, 68, who died under suspicious circumstances after eating a banana believed to be tainted. His death, initially attributed to food poisoning, occurred after floodwaters reportedly contaminated crops on their property.
Despite the shocking allegations, authorities have reported no known disputes within the family. However, they continue to examine the motives and circumstances surrounding the poisonings. As the investigation unfolds, the devastating events have left the family reeling and a community searching for answers to this horrifying holiday tragedy.