Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos and other family members were rushed to hospital where it was learned they had ingested trace amounts of the poisonous toxic metal arsenic
A woman who baked a “poisoned” Christmas cake that killed three people has been pictured for the first time.
Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, from Torres, in southern Brazil, baked a traditional Christmas cake as part of a festive meal for the family on December 23. But shortly after eating the cake, her sisters Maida, 57, and Neuza, 65, as well as Neuza’s daughter Tatiana, 43, died.
Tatiana and Maida died the same day after consuming the cake, while Neuza was hospitalsied in a critical condition before dying the following day. Three others, including Zeli and a 10-year-old boy, fell ill and were taken to hospital. It has since emerged that traces of the toxic metal arsenic were found in the bodies of the three women.
Zeli is believed to have eaten two slices of the cake and was the first to be taken to the hospital after which she became seriously ill. She remains in a stable condition. The 10-year-old, who is believed to be Tatiana’s son, is believed to be in a stable condition. Only one person who was present at the family meal, who has not been named, did not eat any of the cake.
The Civil Police are awaiting results to identify what could have caused the deaths of the three women, though it has been reported that traces of arsenic have been found in their systems. Another invesitgation has been opened by police, who now plan to exhume the remains of Zeli’s husband, who died in September, due to food poisoning.
Zeli is understood to have spoken to police who have yet to determine whether the victims were intentionally poisoned. It’s believed she gave information to authorities about the time and place where the ingredients for the Bolo de Natal were purchased. Once Zeli has been discharged, she will reportedly be questioned further.
According to the Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, Tatiana and Maida both suffered fatal cardiac arrests. Neuza reportedly died due to “shock after food poisoning.”
A statement from local police to the local network Globo said: “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.”
