BRAZIL – After eating the cake baked by her daughter-in-law, 3 people in her husband’s family died and 3 others were hospitalized.

Police said on January 6 that Deise Moura, the daughter-in-law of Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos (61 years old) living in Torres, Brazil, was arrested on charges of murder.

Zeli made a traditional Brazilian cake for Christmas for her family and her daughter-in-law Deise helped her prepare the food.

A few hours after eating the cake, her sister Maida Bernice Flores da Silva (58 years old) and niece Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos (43 years old) had a seizure and died. A day later, Zeli’s sister Neuza Denize Silva Dos Anjos (65 years old) also passed away.

A representative of the Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres Hospital said the cause of death was “toxic shock”. Three other family members were hospitalized but fortunately recovered and were discharged.

Forensic experts found large amounts of arsenic in the victims’ blood and in the ingredients of the cake.

After investigating, the police discovered that the suspect was Deise Moura’s daughter-in-law. She had previously researched arsenic on the internet. The suspect’s motive and method of poisoning the cake have not been clarified.

However, according to some information from relatives and witnesses, the victim’s family was quite harmonious before the incident.

After this incident, the police decided to reopen the investigation into the death of Deise Moura’s husband. He died in September 2024.

At that time, the police did not perform an autopsy because they believed he died of natural causes. This time, the police are considering whether he was poisoned.