Murder probe launches after wife’s ‘poisonous’ Christmas cake leaves three dead

Sarah Hooper and Sam Corbishley

Published December 27, 2024 6:46pm Updated December 29, 2024 10:47pm

Two sisters and their niece died after eating a ‘poisonous’ Christmas cake (Picture: Jam Press/Facebook)

Police have launched a murder probe after a woman baked a ‘poisonous’ Christmas cake that is believed to have killed her two sisters and a niece.

A bottle of white liquid believed to be the poisonous substance arsenic was found in the home of cake baker Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61.

The widow fell seriously ill and was hospitalised after preparing the festive treat for a family meal in Torres, Brazil, on December 23.

Her sisters Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, and a niece, Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, all died within 24 hours of eating it.

Three other relatives, including Zeli and a 10-year-old boy, were also rushed to hospital after falling seriously ill.

The Civil Police are waiting for test results to identify what could have caused the deaths of the three women, but local media reports the investigation has been upgraded to a homicide after traces of arsenic were found in the bodies of the three dead women.

Police have now revealed they plan to exhume the body of Zeli’s late husband Paolo Luiz who is said to have died of food poisoning in September.

Zeli Dos Anjos https://www.facebook.com/zelianjos/photos — Zeli is thought to have eaten two slices and was the first to be taken to hospital after becoming severely unwell (Picture: Facebook)

Story from Jam Press (Cake Death) Pictured: The cake though to have caused the deaths. Victims from same family who died after eating cake together pictured and named ? as police plan to exhume the body of the baker's late husband Three people from the same family have died after falling ill immediately after eating a cake. The incident took place on 23 December, with police initially withholding information regarding the victims. They have now been named and pictured. Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, passed away the same day of consuming the dessert. Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was hospitalised in critical condition before tragically dying the following day (24 December). Three other family members also became unwell after eating the cake, including a 10-year-old boy. It was reportedly baked by Maida and her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who is currently in hospital. The family gathered to consume the cake at Zeli?s home. The Civil Police are currently awaiting results to identify what could have caused the deaths of the three women, with officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso leading the investigation. Zeli is believed to have consumed two slices of the cake and was the first to be taken to hospital after becoming severely ill. She has provided information to authorities about the time and place where the ingredients were purchased. Police have also opened another investigation prompting the exhumation of the body of Zeli?s husband. The case surrounding his death will be evaluated after he passed away in September due to food poisoning. Once Zeli has been discharged from the hospital, she will be questioned further, as reported by NeedToKnow. Neighbours of her home in Torres, Brazil, will be interviewed, too. However, Veloso has highlighted that there are no records of inheritance disputes or fights between the family members. According to the Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, Tatiana and Maida both died from cardiac arrest. Neuza?s cause of death has been disclosed as ?shock after food poisoning?. Maida, Neuza and Zeli were sisters and Tatiana was Neuza?s daughter. Zeli and the 10-year-old boy, who has not been named, remain in hospital in stable condition. The sixth family member, who has not been named but is believed to be Maida?s husband, has been discharged from hospital. ENDS — The cake thought to have caused the deaths (Picture: Jam Press)

Neighbours will also be interviewed as part of the investigation.

Detectives said right now the case is likely manslaughter – but they also investigating if the toxic cake was an intentional homicide, reports GZH.

Initial searches of the home turned up several food items which had gone out of date.

A police statement to 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.’

Zeli is believed to have spoken with officers, telling them when and where she bought the ingredients for the cake.

Story from Jam Press (Cake Death) Pictured: Maida Berenice Flores da Silva. Victims from same family who died after eating cake together pictured and named ? as police plan to exhume the body of the baker's late husband Three people from the same family have died after falling ill immediately after eating a cake. The incident took place on 23 December, with police initially withholding information regarding the victims. They have now been named and pictured. Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, passed away the same day of consuming the dessert. Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was hospitalised in critical condition before tragically dying the following day (24 December). Three other family members also became unwell after eating the cake, including a 10-year-old boy. It was reportedly baked by Maida and her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who is currently in hospital. The family gathered to consume the cake at Zeli?s home. The Civil Police are currently awaiting results to identify what could have caused the deaths of the three women, with officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso leading the investigation. Zeli is believed to have consumed two slices of the cake and was the first to be taken to hospital after becoming severely ill. She has provided information to authorities about the time and place where the ingredients were purchased. Police have also opened another investigation prompting the exhumation of the body of Zeli?s husband. The case surrounding his death will be evaluated after he passed away in September due to food poisoning. Once Zeli has been discharged from the hospital, she will be questioned further, as reported by NeedToKnow. Neighbours of her home in Torres, Brazil, will be interviewed, too. However, Veloso has highlighted that there are no records of inheritance disputes or fights between the family members. According to the Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, Tatiana and Maida both died from cardiac arrest. Neuza?s cause of death has been disclosed as ?shock after food poisoning?. Maida, Neuza and Zeli were sisters and Tatiana was Neuza?s daughter. Zeli and the 10-year-old boy, who has not been named, remain in hospital in stable condition. The sixth family member, who has not been named but is believed to be Maida?s husband, has been discharged from hospital. ENDS — Maida Berenice Flores da Silva is believed to have baked the cake (Picture: Jam Press)

Story from Jam Press (Cake Death) Pictured: Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos. Victims from same family who died after eating cake together pictured and named ? as police plan to exhume the body of the baker's late husband Three people from the same family have died after falling ill immediately after eating a cake. The incident took place on 23 December, with police initially withholding information regarding the victims. They have now been named and pictured. Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, passed away the same day of consuming the dessert. Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was hospitalised in critical condition before tragically dying the following day (24 December). Three other family members also became unwell after eating the cake, including a 10-year-old boy. It was reportedly baked by Maida and her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who is currently in hospital. The family gathered to consume the cake at Zeli?s home. The Civil Police are currently awaiting results to identify what could have caused the deaths of the three women, with officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso leading the investigation. Zeli is believed to have consumed two slices of the cake and was the first to be taken to hospital after becoming severely ill. She has provided information to authorities about the time and place where the ingredients were purchased. Police have also opened another investigation prompting the exhumation of the body of Zeli?s husband. The case surrounding his death will be evaluated after he passed away in September due to food poisoning. Once Zeli has been discharged from the hospital, she will be questioned further, as reported by NeedToKnow. Neighbours of her home in Torres, Brazil, will be interviewed, too. However, Veloso has highlighted that there are no records of inheritance disputes or fights between the family members. According to the Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, Tatiana and Maida both died from cardiac arrest. Neuza?s cause of death has been disclosed as ?shock after food poisoning?. Maida, Neuza and Zeli were sisters and Tatiana was Neuza?s daughter. Zeli and the 10-year-old boy, who has not been named, remain in hospital in stable condition. The sixth family member, who has not been named but is believed to be Maida?s husband, has been discharged from hospital. ENDS — Her sister Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos died (Picture: Jam Press)

Story from Jam Press (Cake Death) Pictured: Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo. Victims from same family who died after eating cake together pictured and named ? as police plan to exhume the body of the baker's late husband Three people from the same family have died after falling ill immediately after eating a cake. The incident took place on 23 December, with police initially withholding information regarding the victims. They have now been named and pictured. Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, passed away the same day of consuming the dessert. Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was hospitalised in critical condition before tragically dying the following day (24 December). Three other family members also became unwell after eating the cake, including a 10-year-old boy. It was reportedly baked by Maida and her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who is currently in hospital. The family gathered to consume the cake at Zeli?s home. The Civil Police are currently awaiting results to identify what could have caused the deaths of the three women, with officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso leading the investigation. Zeli is believed to have consumed two slices of the cake and was the first to be taken to hospital after becoming severely ill. She has provided information to authorities about the time and place where the ingredients were purchased. Police have also opened another investigation prompting the exhumation of the body of Zeli?s husband. The case surrounding his death will be evaluated after he passed away in September due to food poisoning. Once Zeli has been discharged from the hospital, she will be questioned further, as reported by NeedToKnow. Neighbours of her home in Torres, Brazil, will be interviewed, too. However, Veloso has highlighted that there are no records of inheritance disputes or fights between the family members. According to the Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, Tatiana and Maida both died from cardiac arrest. Neuza?s cause of death has been disclosed as ?shock after food poisoning?. Maida, Neuza and Zeli were sisters and Tatiana was Neuza?s daughter. Zeli and the 10-year-old boy, who has not been named, remain in hospital in stable condition. The sixth family member, who has not been named but is believed to be Maida?s husband, has been discharged from hospital. ENDS — Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo also died (Picture: Jam Press)

She is thought to have eaten two slices and was the first to be taken to hospital after becoming severely unwell.

Marcos Vinicius Veloso, who is leading the investigation, confirmed there are no records of inheritance disputes or fights between the family members.

According to the Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, Tatiana and Maida both died from cardiac arrest.