Tragic rise in death toll as woman dies from Christmas market attack injuries
- A family in Brazil was poisoned after consuming a cake containing arsenic on Christmas Eve, leading to three fatalities.
- The main suspect, arrested shortly after, is the daughter-in-law of the woman who baked the cake, and she has a history of family disputes.
- Authorities highlight alarming arsenic levels in both the cake and the deceased's bodies, revealing intentional poisoning rather than food contamination.
In Brazil, on Christmas Eve, a tragic incident unfolded when a family was poisoned after consuming a cake that contained arsenic. The event occurred in the city of Torres, situated in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Three women, identified as sisters Maida and Neuza, and Neuza's daughter Tatiana, succumbed to the poison, while three others were hospitalized. Authorities confirmed that the cake was tainted with a lethal concentration of arsenic, ruling out food poisoning as a cause for the deaths. The police's investigation indicated that there were seven individuals present when the cake was served, pointing towards foul play, as one person refrained from eating it. The primary suspect was identified as the daughter-in-law of Zeli dos Anjos, 60, who had baked the cake. This suspect had longstanding disagreements with her family, reportedly spanning more than two decades. The Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul arrested her, charging her with triple homicide and three counts of attempted homicide. The police noted that the levels of arsenic found in the urine and stomach samples of the deceased were shockingly high; with concentrations reaching 350 times above safe limits. The investigation took a pivotal turn when experts found that the flour used for the cake contained arsenic levels alarmingly higher than permissible, reaching 2,700 times the allowed limit. Such findings led experts to conclude that the flour was the source of contamination, negating the possibility of natural food poisoning. Amidst this horror, Zeli dos Anjos remains hospitalized in intensive care, along with her ten-year-old great-nephew. This horrifying event not only reveals a family tragedy but also raises broader concerns about food safety and the potential for malicious acts within families. As police continue their inquiries, the community grapples with the shock of the incident and the implications it holds for trust and safety at home during what should be a joyous festive season.