A festive family gathering turned into a nightmare when a traditional Brazilian Christmas cake caused the death of at least three family members and hospitalized three others.
The incident is reminiscent of a horror story, and the investigation is ongoing to uncover the truth behind this tragedy.
A Family’s Worst Nightmare
On Monday, December 23, Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, suffered cardiac arrests after eating the homemade cake, known as Bolo de Natal. The next day, Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos, 65, died due to “shock after poisoning.” The cakes were prepared by Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, and her sister.
Poisonous Ingredients?
Initial laboratory tests found arsenic present in the bodies of the three deceased women. This disturbing discovery has prompted the police to reopen an investigation into the death of Zeli’s husband, Paolo Luiz, who died from food poisoning in September. His death was initially considered natural, but now, authorities are not ruling out poisoning.
A Sinister Pattern Emerges
Detective Marcos Vinícius Velho, leading the investigation, said, “As we became aware of this fact today, we opened a police investigation, and we are going to exhume this man’s body to check whether there was also poisoning.” This raises suspicions about a possible pattern of poisoning, and the police are working to uncover the truth.
A Family’s Tradition Turns Deadly
A friend of the family revealed that they had baked the cake for years without any issues. “It was a traditional family cake, a king’s cake, which they always, always, always made,” he said. But this time, it proved to be a deadly mistake.
The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to determine the exact cause of the poisoning. In the meantime, the family is left to mourn the loss of their loved ones, and the community is left to wonder how a traditional family recipe could turn so deadly.
