A mystery Christmas Cake poisoning which ended with the deaths of three members of the same family could be linked to a power cut, police have admitted.
Zeli dos Anjos, 61, prepared the traditional ‘Bolo de Natal’ festive treat for a family meal on December 23 in the southern Brazilian city of Torres.
She was one of six family members including a 10-year-old child who ended up in hospital with food poisoning. Her sisters Maida, 58, Neuza, 65, and Neuza’s daughter Tatiana, 43, all died shortly after eating the cake.
Traces of the toxic metal arsenic were found in the victims’ bodies, although further tests are ongoing.
In the wake of the Christmas horror it emerged Zeli’s husband had died from suspected food poisoning in September.
The death was not deemed suspicious at the time but detectives have confirmed Paulo Luiz’s body will now be exhumed so a proper post mortem can take place.
Torres-based police chief Marcos Vinicius Veloso said earlier this week of the Christmas drama: ‘With the evidence we have collected, we do not know whether the poisoning was negligent or intentional.
‘So far, I have not been able to find any intentional conduct. However, other evidence that comes to light may contradict what I think now.
‘This is an investigation that requires great caution.’
Zeli dos Anjos (pictured) prepared the traditional ‘Bolo de Natal’ festive treat for a family meal on December 23
Detectives have confirmed Paulo Luiz’s (pictured) body will now be exhumed so a proper post mortem can take place
Anjos made the cake (pictured) on December 23 in the southern Brazilian city of Torres
Overnight he revealed detectives were studying the possibility bacteria-ridden currants and other spoiled foods used as a cake topping after a power-cut could be linked to the fatal poisonings.
Zeli, who has spoken briefly to cops from her hospital bed, is said to have prepared the Christmas cake at a house in the beach resort of Arroio do Sal a 35-minute drive south of Torres she used as a holiday home but had not visited for a while because she had been living at her main home in Canoas a two-hour drive inland.
The family ate the suspect cake in an apartment in Torres where Maida lived with her husband.
Mr Veloso revealed overnight: ‘Zeli had spent some time away from her place in Arroio do Sal and when she returned to it she found the fridge off because from the inquiries we’ve been able to make, it appears there’d been some sort of power cut there.
‘When she went into the property there was an unbearable smell.
‘Some of the things in the fridge, perishable foods like meat, were thrown away.
‘But other items were re-used.
‘What we’re trying to confirm is that some of those items, like currants and other crystallised fruit, could have been used in the cake a month later.’
It’s believed Zeli, pictured, ate two cake slices and was the first one to be taken to hospital after becoming severely ill. She is set to be further questioned by local police once released
Tributes have since been paid to Maida, a teacher, hailed as ‘wonderful’ by friends
Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, pictured left, was rushed to hospital in critical condition before also dying the following day. Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, pictured right, also died
Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, pictured, died following having the Christmas cake on December 23
It’s believed Zeli, pictured, has spoken to detectives from her hospital bed. However, she has not yet been arrested or charged with any offence
The police chief has previously been quoted as saying: ‘We are working mainly by hearing from all the people who had contact with the family to understand this family life. In short, the statements are that the family lived in harmony.
‘This leads us to believe, so far, that there was no malicious conduct.’
Arsenic can be found in seafood, rice, mushrooms and poultry although many other foods including some fruit juices can also contain it.
Maida, a teacher, was the first to die. Her husband Jefferson, who also ate the cake, needed medical treatment but his symptoms were described as ‘minor.’
He has told Brazilian media no-one in the family thinks Zeli had any intention of harming her relatives.
She is expected to be questioned again once she leaves hospital. Her current condition in hospital has been described as ‘stable.’
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